Why You Feel Anxious for “No Reason”: Understanding Your Nervous System
Many people say, “I know nothing is wrong, so why does my body feel like this?”
Racing heart. Tight chest. Restlessness. A constant sense of bracing. Anxiety often isn’t a thinking problem. It’s a nervous system problem. It’s a nervous system problem.
Your Nervous System Is Trying to Protect You
Your nervous system is always scanning for safety or danger. If you’ve lived through stress, trauma, or long periods of unpredictability, your system may have learned to stay on high alert.
Over time, this can lead to:
Constant tension
Trouble relaxing
Overthinking or worst-case-scenario thinking
Difficulty sleeping
Feeling “on edge” even in safe situations
This doesn’t mean you’re broken. It means your system adapted.
Why Logic Doesn’t Usually Calm Anxiety
You can understand something logically and still feel anxious. That’s because anxiety lives in the body’s survival responses, not just in thoughts.
This is why approaches that include the body - often called somatic therapy - can be so helpful.
What is Nervous System Regulation?
Nervous system regulation involves learning how to gently help your body come out of survival mode. This might include:
Breath and grounding practices
Learning to notice body sensations without being overwhelmed
Tracking when your system shifts into stress or shutdown
Building capacity to feel safe in the present
Over time, the body learns that it doesn’t have to stay on high alert.
Anxiety Is a Signal, Not a Flaw
Anxiety often makes sense in the context of your life experiences. Trauma-informed counselling can help you understand what your system has been protecting you from. And build new patterns that support steadiness, connection, an choice.
Looking for Trauma Therapy in Maple Ridge?
If you’re looking for trauma counselling in Maple Ridge, support for anxiety, or nervous system regulation, our team is here to help. We offer in-person sessions in Maple Ridge and virtual counselling across BC.