The word “anxiety” is thrown around so often that many people don’t fully grasp just how exhausting and overwhelming it can be. Your brain is constantly in overdrive, caught in endless spirals of worry, overanalyzing every situation, second-guessing decisions, and imagining worst-case scenarios. It can feel like there’s no off switch, leaving you physically and mentally drained.

Chances are, you’ve been called a “worry wart” or told to “just relax” or “stop overthinking,” as if it were that easy. But anxiety isn’t just a passing concern—it can take over your thoughts and interfere with your daily life, even showing up in physical ways like headaches, stomachaches, irritability, or trouble sleeping.

So many different factors can contribute to anxiety, and it’s completely normal for its intensity to fluctuate depending on life’s circumstances. You may notice these shifts as increase in racing thoughts, an uptick in intrusive worries, or new and worsening physical sensations and pain. Whether anxiety has been a lifelong struggle or is something new, understanding its patterns can help you manage it.