Feeling Overwhelmed? You Might Be Suffering From Anxiety Without Knowing It
We all have a lot going on in our lives: work, school, family, relationships, finances — it can seem like there’s always something to worry about. On any given day, you might say something like “I’m so stressed out about this,” or “Work is making me anxious,” or “I’m so overwhelmed.” But did you know that these feelings aren’t actually interchangeable?
Sure, there may be some overlap in how these feelings present themselves physically, emotionally, and mentally. But you might be surprised to learn that anxiety can go unnoticed or unrecognized, leaving you struggling with overwhelming feelings without understanding the underlying cause.
To deal with these feelings effectively, we need to understand the hidden nature of anxiety, how it can impact us, and how to recognize and treat it. Here at The Holistic Counseling Center, we believe that anxiety is a symptom — not a life sentence. If you’re struggling with anxiety, you’re in the right place. Our expert therapists specialize in the holistic treatment of anxiety in El Dorado Hills and online within the state of California. We’re here for you!
How to Know If You’re Stressed, Overwhelmed, or Anxious
In our fast-paced world, it’s common to experience stress, anxiety, and emotional overwhelm. While the terms are often used interchangeably, they actually refer to different experiences.
Stress
Do you ever feel like stress is your baseline emotion these days? That’s understandable. Everyone experiences stress at some point. Stress is caused by something that’s happening right now - like work deadlines, financial problems, or major life events. Stress is usually a short-term experience, and subsides when the stressor is removed. While short instances of stress are totally normal, prolonged stress can have serious negative side effects on your mental and physical health.
Feeling Overwhelmed
When you feel overwhelmed, you’re in a state of being mentally or emotionally overloaded by excessive tasks, responsibilities, or stimuli. Various situations can cause you to feel overwhelmed — like work, school obligations, or family responsibilities. When you’re overwhelmed, you likely feel like you’re stretched too thin. You might be running around frantically, but not actually achieving much. You might feel like you’re stuck in a vicious cycle. And unfortunately, in a society where doing the most and being exhausted is often viewed as a badge of honor, it can be tough to slow down and take care of yourself.
Anxiety
Anxiety extends beyond specific stressful situations, and can occur without any specific trigger. You might be stressed about giving a presentation at work, and anxious about the overall future of your career. Anxiety is a persistent worry or fear — kind of like a dark, ominous cloud continually hovering above your head. And it can feel overwhelming.
Anxiety quite literally overwhelms your nervous system and wreaks havoc on your body. Yikes, right? Since anxiety triggers your fight-or-flight response, it uses up a lot of your mental and physical energy. It affects the way your hormones and neurotransmitters are produced, which can in turn affect the way you think and feel.
Mentally, anxiety might look like rumination and racing thoughts. Physically, it might manifest through symptoms like chest pains, trouble breathing, nausea, or dizziness. And when you’re prone to panic attacks, anxiety is especially overwhelming.
If you’re suffering from anxiety, know that healing and change are always possible, and you can feel better — no matter what you’re struggling with.
Common Misconceptions About Anxiety
A common belief about anxiety is that it’s easily identified — but this isn’t always the case. Anxiety isn’t always accompanied by panic attacks and extreme emotions. It can manifest in more subtle ways — like perfectionism, low self-esteem, avoidance, or trouble sleeping.
Another common misconception is that you can solve anxiety simply by avoiding stressful situations. While this is a way to decrease anxiety symptoms in the moment, you can’t avoid stressful situations forever. Anxiety treatments like holistic therapy can help you learn to navigate and manage anxiety-inducing situations.
Society has normalized stress and worry, and people often feel that their anxiety symptoms are simply a normal part of the human experience. The subject of anxiety can feel taboo — but it’s time to break the stigma.
How to Recognize the Signs of Anxiety
If you’re experiencing symptoms of anxiety, your body is crying out for attention and self-love — and it’s important to listen to it! Some common symptoms that indicate you may be dealing with anxiety can include:
Constant worry about the past or the future
Feeling numb or disconnected from the heart and the body
Over-reliance on food to relax
Loss or lack of intuition
Under or overactive sex drive
Trouble sleeping
Constant thinking that you can't seem to stop
Self-doubt that keeps you from doing what you want in your life
Self-sabotage
Low self-esteem
Perfectionism
Fear of being seen, feeling like an 'imposter'
Being super critical of your thoughts, feelings, and actions
Hidden anxiety can be challenging to detect, and it’s important to recognize the signs and symptoms so you can receive proper treatment.
Remember that anxiety is treatable, and with support, you can learn to reality-check those racing thoughts, strengthen your mind-body connection, and experience your life with more self-love and joy.
Coping Strategies for Managing Anxiety
In addition to seeking the professional help of a qualified holistic therapist, there are several coping strategies you can use in your daily life to help manage the symptoms of anxiety.
Pay attention to what triggers your anxiety. Is it work, school, or certain social situations? If you can identify a pattern, you’ll be better prepared to manage your symptoms before they get the best of you.
We get it — anxiety sucks. But try to remind yourself that your anxious thoughts aren’t based on facts or reality. With that in mind, you might find it easier to release the negative thoughts and ground yourself in the present moment. Grounding exercises like journaling and breathwork can help to bring you back to a stable state.
A strong social network can go a long way. When you’re feeling overwhelmed by anxiety, sometimes talking with a trusted friend or family member is exactly what you need.
Don’t forget to give yourself some extra kindness and love! Lifestyle changes like taking breaks, prioritizing sleep, getting enough exercise, and limiting your alcohol and caffeine intake can make a huge difference.
Anxiety Treatment in El Dorado Hills, California
As always, all of us here at The Holistic Counseling Center are rooting for you. You’re not alone! It’s absolutely possible to navigate through anxiety and come out on the other side feeling stronger than ever.
If you’re feeling stressed, overwhelmed, and experiencing symptoms of anxiety, we offer holistic psychotherapy for the mind, body, and spirit in person in El Dorado Hills as well as online for anyone in California. To get started, schedule a no-cost consultation call with our intake coordinator and we’ll make sure you’re matched with the right anxiety therapist for you. We can’t wait to be a part of your healing journey!
And be sure to download our free guide: 5 Holistic Practices for Soothing Anxiety.
Meet Kim
Kim Burris is a licensed holistic psychotherapist, founder of The Holistic Counseling Center, and author of ‘The First 90 Days After Birth.’
She honors the mind, body, spirit connection and offers evidence-based treatment with a heart centered approach, integrating the depth of western psychology with the heart and soul of eastern mysticism.
Kim and her team currently offer holistic counseling to individuals in El Dorado Hills, CA and online. Click HERE to book a no-cost consultation call.