What anxiety really is
Your brain’s most important job is keeping you safe. The difficulty begins when it becomes too good at spotting danger and starts reacting to thoughts, sensations or situations that are not actually a threat.
Think of a smoke alarm that goes off every time you make toast. It is not trying to make life difficult. It is doing its job too sensitively. Anxiety can work in much the same way.
Why it feels so physical
If your brain predicts danger, it prepares your whole body to respond. Your heart beats faster, breathing changes and muscles tighten. You may feel dizzy, shaky, breathless, tingly or detached. Those sensations then become more evidence for the alarm.
Why it keeps going
Googling symptoms, checking your body, asking for reassurance, planning escape routes and avoiding situations can bring relief in the moment. They can also teach the brain that there must have been something dangerous to check. The cycle continues because checking feels necessary.