Anxiety and Overwhelm Therapy

If we wanted to make anxiety as simple as possible, it’s the fear of the unknown. Anxiety isn’t bad—it’s actually a natural response to stress. It can show up as worry, nervousness, or unease about what might happen next. But when those feelings become constant, overwhelming, or start to impact how you move through your daily life, that’s often a sign it’s time for support.

There are several types of anxiety disorders, and they can all look a little different:

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): Ongoing worry about everyday things—often feeling like your brain can’t “turn off.”

• Panic Disorder: Sudden, intense episodes of fear or panic that can feel physical (racing heart, shortness of breath).

• Social Anxiety Disorder: Fear of being judged or embarrassed in social situations, leading to avoidance or overthinking.

• Specific Phobias: Intense fear of a particular situation or object (like flying, heights, or needles).

• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): Repetitive thoughts or behaviors that feel hard to control.

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Anxiety responses tied to past trauma or distressing experiences.

If you’re feeling anxious more often than not—or your worry, tension, or overthinking is getting in the way of everyday life—you might be experiencing an anxiety disorder. Common signs include constant worry, restlessness, fatigue, irritability, muscle tension, difficulty sleeping, or feeling like your mind never stops running.

Anxiety can come from many places. For high-achieving, caring people, it often develops from feeling like you have to do everything just right or hold everything together for everyone else. Genetics, life stressors, trauma, or perfectionistic patterns can all play a role. It’s not your fault—your brain and body have just learned to stay on alert, even when you’re safe now.

Anxiety is treatable, and therapy is one of the most effective ways to work through it. Common approaches include:

• Therapy: Working with an anxiety therapist helps you understand your patterns, calm your nervous system, and build new coping tools.

• Medication: For some, anti-anxiety or antidepressant medication (prescribed by a doctor or psychiatrist) can help make therapy more effective.

• Lifestyle shifts: Regular movement, better sleep, balanced nutrition, and boundaries around rest can make a big difference.

• Mindfulness & relaxation techniques: Learning how to slow your mind and body through mindfulness, grounding, or deep breathing helps retrain your system to feel safe again.

Therapy helps you address the root of your anxiety, not just the symptoms (even though you learn tools to help manage those too). Medication can be a helpful tool, especially when anxiety feels unmanageable on its own. For many people, a combination of therapy and medication works best.

Yes. Anxiety doesn’t just live in your head—it shows up in your body too. Chronic anxiety can lead to headaches, muscle tension, stomach issues, fatigue, and sleep problems. Therapy can help you notice what your body is holding and learn to release it instead of carrying it alone.

Look for a therapist who talks specifically about treating anxiety on their website or profile—and whose approach resonates with you. If you’re someone who looks “fine” on the outside but is quietly unraveling inside, you’ll want a therapist who can see beneath the surface. A good anxiety therapist in Richmond, VA won’t just hand you coping skills—they’ll help you understand why you feel this way and how to finally find calm and clarity again.

Absolutely. With the right support, anxiety can soften. You can learn to calm your body, quiet your mind, and trust yourself again. It’s not about “getting rid” of anxiety—it’s about no longer letting it run your life.