Nervous System Healing: What is Anxiety?
- Dr Jean Carroll
- Aug 26
- 5 min read
What is Anxiety?
Introduction
Anxiety is one of the most common signs of nervous system dysregulation. When it lingers or intensifies, it can feel overwhelming, confusing, and even frightening. If you’ve noticed your mind racing, your body feeling tense, or a constant sense of unease that doesn’t seem to let up, you may be experiencing anxiety.
Anxiety is a natural part of the body’s survival system. In healthy amounts, it sharpens our focus, prepares us for challenges, and keeps us alert to potential risks. It’s the reason we double-check details before a big presentation or pause to look both ways before crossing the street. But when this system shifts into overdrive, anxiety can become chronic, leaving the body and mind in a state of constant strain. The encouraging news is that this state isn’t permanent — with awareness and support, the nervous system can learn to regulate, reconnect, and restore balance.
What is Anxiety?
Anxiety is the body’s way of preparing for challenge or threat. In healthy amounts, it sharpens focus, heightens alertness, and mobilizes energy — essential survival skills. The difficulty comes when this response gets stuck “on,” leaving us tense, restless, or on edge even without clear danger. Seen through the lens of the nervous system, anxiety is not a flaw but a protective response working overtime.
When that happens, the body sends signals — physical, mental, and emotional — that it’s under strain.
What are the Symptoms of Anxiety?
Anxiety looks different for everyone, but here are some of the most common signs:
Racing thoughts, constant worry, or difficulty quieting the mind
Muscle tension, jaw clenching, or restlessness
Trouble sleeping or frequent waking
Feeling easily startled or on edge
Rapid heartbeat, shallow breathing, or sweating
Difficulty concentrating or feeling “foggy”
Digestive issues or frequent stomach discomfort
These symptoms don’t mean you’re broken — they are signals that your nervous system is running in high alert and needs support to downshift.
What Causes Anxiety?
Anxiety can develop from many sources, often building gradually. Some common contributors include:
Chronic stress: ongoing pressure at work, school, or home.
Past trauma: experiences that left your nervous system sensitized to threat.
Uncertainty or change: major life transitions, financial instability, or global events.
Biological sensitivity: genetics and experiences can prime the nervous system toward vigilance.
Perfectionism and high self-expectations: constant self-pressure can keep the system on edge.
Biologically, anxiety is linked to prolonged sympathetic nervous system activation — the fight-or-flight state. When the body perceives threat, it releases adrenaline and cortisol, mobilizing us to act. But when this state persists, it can feel like we can’t “switch off,” even when we want to.
Anxiety and the Nervous System
The nervous system plays a central role in anxiety. Normally, we shift flexibly between activation (mobilizing for tasks) and relaxation (rest and digest). In anxiety, the balance tips too far toward activation, leaving the body on high alert.
For some, this shows up as hyperarousal — tension, vigilance, and racing thoughts. In some cases, prolonged anxiety can eventually shift into hypoarousal, leaving a person feeling flat or detached. Both are nervous system strategies of protection.
When you understand anxiety as a nervous system response — not a personal flaw — it becomes easier to approach healing with compassion and curiosity instead of judgment.
How Do You Work With Anxiety?
Somatic Healing
Because anxiety involves both the mind and the body, somatic (body-based) practices are essential. These practices help calm the physiological stress response and give the nervous system a direct pathway back toward regulation.
Restoring Regulation
Your nervous system thrives on cycles of activation and rest. With anxiety, the “on” switch dominates. Healing means practicing intentional downshifts: pausing between tasks, creating moments of sensory calm (like feeling your feet on the ground), or practicing breath-based resets. Over time, these micro-practices restore flexibility.
Co-regulation
Humans are wired for safety in connection. Being with a calm, supportive person, or people, can send powerful messages to your nervous system: I am safe here. Practicing somatic tools in community can amplify their impact and help them integrate swiftly and fully.
Taking the Next Step
While it’s possible to explore nervous system regulation on your own, many people find that healing from anxiety is easier with structure, guidance, and community. That’s why I created my online course — a step-by-step journey into somatic practices designed to bring calm, resilience, and balance.
In the course, you will:
Learn how anxiety shows up in your nervous system and why it persists.
Explore guided practices that help your system release tension and reclaim calm.
Experience the support of a safe, compassionate group setting.
Build a personal toolkit you can return to whenever anxiety arises.
Anxiety may feel powerful, but your nervous system is built for resilience and healing. With the right tools and support, you can cultivate lasting calm, safety, and confidence.
A Note on Medical Support
While many people experience mild to moderate anxiety that can be eased through somatic practices and lifestyle shifts, it’s important to recognize when additional care may be needed. If anxiety is significantly interfering with your daily life — affecting sleep, work, relationships, or overall health — it’s wise to speak with a medical doctor or licensed mental health professional.
Left unaddressed, mild or moderate anxiety can sometimes progress into clinical anxiety, which often requires more intensive treatment. Reaching out early can prevent symptoms from worsening and provide you with tailored strategies for relief. Seeking support is not a sign of weakness — it’s an act of care that can accelerate your healing process.
Key Takeaways
Anxiety is a natural survival response that becomes disruptive when it stays switched on too long.
Symptoms may include racing thoughts, muscle tension, restlessness, and difficulty sleeping.
Anxiety reflects a state of nervous system activation — your body’s attempt to protect you.
Somatic practices, regulation strategies, and supportive connection can help the system return to balance.
Support is available, and healing is possible.
FAQs about Anxiety
What’s the difference between stress and anxiety?Stress is usually tied to a specific situation, while anxiety can persist even without a clear trigger.
Can anxiety cause physical symptoms?Yes. Because the nervous system controls the body, anxiety can show up as tension, digestive problems, headaches, or sleep issues.
Is anxiety genetic? Genetics can play a role, but environment, life experiences, and stress also strongly shape the nervous system’s sensitivity.
Can anxiety be fully healed?While some people may always be more sensitive to stress, the nervous system is highly adaptable. With somatic tools and support, anxiety can significantly decrease, and many people experience long-term relief.
Author Bio
Dr. Jean Carroll, PhD, specializes in nervous system healing and somatic therapy. With over 20 years of experience, she supports individuals in recovering from stress, trauma, anxiety, and burnout through a science-based and compassionate approach. Her work blends neuroscience with somatic practices to help people restore capacity, resilience, and calm.
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