When Anxiety Speaks: Listening to the Messages Beneath the Noise
Most of us have been taught to treat anxiety like something to get rid of. Something we need to fix, quiet, or push through. But what if anxiety wasn’t just a symptom but a signal?
From a somatic (body-based) perspective, anxiety isn’t just in your head. It’s in your body. It’s your nervous system’s way of saying, “Hey, something doesn’t feel right.”
And if we pause long enough to listen, anxiety can carry messages that are actually pretty wise.
Your Body Is Talking—What Might It Be Saying?
Sometimes, anxiety shows up when words don’t. It’s the body’s sympathetic response (i.e., fight or flight) signaling something deeper.
It might be saying:
“I’m overwhelmed.”
“This doesn’t feel safe.”
“I’ve disconnected from myself.”
“I don’t know how to slow down.”
“Something important is being ignored.”
Instead of asking, “How do I stop feeling this way?”, it can be helpful to ask, “What is this feeling trying to show me?”
That small shift can change everything.
A Closer Look: What Anxiety Might Be Signaling
Here are a few deeper layers anxiety might be pointing to—not as problems, but as unmet needs or emotional truths.
Mental Overload
When your thoughts are racing or you can’t seem to settle, your mind might be waving a little white flag. Too many tabs open, not enough space to process.
Sometimes what we call “anxiety” is really just our brain saying, “I’m tired.”
Unmet Needs or Crossed Boundaries
Anxiety before a meeting, a conversation, or even hanging out with someone might be a clue. Maybe your body is sensing a boundary being crossed or a part of you that’s not being heard or respected.
That tightness in your chest? It might be trying to say, “This isn’t working for me.”
Too Much, Too Fast
Transitions—even the good ones—can be a lot. New job, new relationship, big plans. When life moves faster than your body can process, anxiety can be the result.
It’s not that something’s wrong. It’s that there hasn’t been enough space to land in what’s un.
Echoes From the Past
Sometimes anxiety is a reminder from an earlier chapter. A current experience might touch an old wound or resemble a past dynamic. Your body remembers, even when your mind doesn’t.
That tension might be less about now and more about then.
From Fixing to Listening: A Somatic Approach
When anxiety shows up, we often try to think our way out of it. But from a somatic perspective, we’re invited to feel our way in instead.
That might sound like:
Noticing where in your body you feel the anxiety (tight chest? buzzing shoulders?)
Slowing down and getting curious about what the sensation is doing
Asking, “What does this part of me need?” (Rest? Reassurance? Space?)
Allowing the energy to move—through breath, tears, stillness, or gentle movement
When we stop bracing against anxiety and start relating to it, something softens. You’re no longer in a tug-of-war with your own body.
What If It’s Not Broken?
Anxiety isn’t always a sign that something is wrong with you. Often, it’s a sign that something is important to you. That something needs care. That something within you is asking to be heard.
You don’t have to figure it all out. You don’t need to have the perfect strategy. But you can begin by noticing, naming, and being with what’s coming up for you in the moment.
Because when we stop pathologizing anxiety—and start listening to it—we make room for a different kind of relationship. One that’s rooted in compassion, not control.
And that’s where real change begins.
Want To Learn How to Listen to the Message Beneath the Noise?
I work with thoughtful, heart-centered adults who want to better understand themselves and their nervous systems. If you’re ready to get curious about your anxiety and begin reconnecting with yourself in a deeper way, I’d love to support you.
Learn more about anxiety therapy and schedule a free consultation to get started.