More than 31% of adults in the United States encounter some form of anxiety disorder during their lifetime. For young adults, this figure soars past 50%. If you find yourself falling into these stats, let me tell you that anxiety is not a part of your personality. And feeling anxious all the time doesn’t have to be your story.

Our healthcare system isn’t built to heal anxiety. It’s decent at addressing the symptoms, but pretty lousy at delving into the root causes. Because here’s the thing – anxiety is more than just a mental issue; it is deeply intertwined with the body. The brain and body maintain a continuous conversation through a process known as interoception, with about 80% of the communication originating from the body and sending messages up to the brain.

So whether you have chronic anxiety or are in a stressful season of life, it’s essential to understand what happens in your body and nervous system when you’re experiencing anxiety. This knowledge empowers you on your path to healing. Awareness serves as the cornerstone of progress, equipping you to make informed choices that genuinely enhance your overall well-being.

Peace is available for you. But if you want to overcome your constant anxiety, you’ve gotta get out of your head and into your body. While mindset, positive thinking, and affirmations are helpful, they have their limitations. I’ve explored them all, but genuine healing happened when I focused on my nervous system.

The #1 thing you need to know to overcome anxiety is this: ANXIETY IS A BODY-BASED ISSUE, not merely a mental one.

The brain reflects the body’s condition, while the body stores memories and perceptions that the mind may overlook. When your body remains locked in fight-or-flight mode, your brain incessantly receives stress signals, even in the absence of a genuine threat.

The root of anxiety lies in an unsettled nervous system stuck in a stress response. To heal, you must establish a sense of felt safety within your body. Body-centered, somatic practices are the key. Proper breathing, reducing stress hormones, exercises for balancing the nervous system, moments of stillness, and activating the vagus nerve can bring harmony to your body and, consequently, your mind.

So, stop trying to resolve a body-based issue with a mind-based solution. Restore safety to your body, and your thought patterns will naturally follow.

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