Understanding Anxiety: How Your Body Reacts to Stress and Disconnection

Danielle Morran
Mar 25
4 min read

Anxiety is a deeply embodied experience that signals a need for safety and connection. It is a natural emotional, physical, and relational response to real or perceived threats. Rather than being just a mental state, anxiety often lives in the body, shaping our posture, breath, and sense of presence in the world.

I think of anxiety like a smoke detector—its purpose is to keep us safe, alerting us when something feels threatening. However, just like a smoke detector that is too sensitive and goes off at the slightest hint of steam, anxiety can sometimes misfire, leaving us feeling on edge, overwhelmed, and disconnected. Similarly, anxiety can feel like a strong wind whipping through a fragile tree, bending and shaking its branches, even when the roots remain intact.

Anxiety as a Response to Disconnection

Anxiety is not just an isolated sensation; it is often a signal from the nervous system that something in our environment or relationships feels unsafe. As humans, we are wired for connection, and when we experience relational wounds, stress, or unmet attachment needs, our bodies react. Anxiety can emerge as a call for attunement, safety, and co-regulation.

Nature mirrors this process—think of a river that has been blocked by debris. When water is unable to flow freely, it becomes turbulent, spilling over in unpredictable ways. Similarly, when our nervous system feels unsupported or disconnected, anxiety builds like water pressing against a dam, seeking a release. Just as water needs to flow freely for calmness to return, we need safe, nurturing relationships to restore balance and regulate our emotions.

With ongoing political unrest, economic instability, environmental crises, and social isolation, anxiety levels have only increased. By 2025, the effects of these global disruptions are even more pronounced, and anxiety will continue to rise. The World Health Organization reported a 25% increase in anxiety worldwide in 2022, and with the world still facing uncertainty, it’s clear that many are struggling. If you’ve been feeling more anxious, you’re not alone—your nervous system is responding to a world that feels increasingly out of control.

When Anxiety Becomes a Problem

Have you ever lived somewhere with a smoke detector so sensitive that even the heat from your toaster could set it off? If you know, you know. The alarm constantly blares, disrupting your sense of ease—even when no real danger is present.

This is what happens when anxiety becomes chronic. If your nervous system is constantly on high alert, anticipating threats, it takes a toll on your emotional, physical, and relational well-being. Your body may remain stuck in a fight, flight, or freeze response, making it hard to rest, feel present, or access a sense of safety.

Much like a tree struggling against a relentless storm, chronic anxiety can make it difficult to trust that the storm will pass. When the nervous system is flooded with fear, it can feel as though we are caught in an endless winter, waiting for warmth and stability to return.

The Relational Impact of Anxiety

Because anxiety is not just an individual experience but a relational one, it can weave through different areas of life—work, school, social interactions, personal relationships, and home. You may notice patterns of hyper-vigilance, people-pleasing, or withdrawal, all of which are adaptive responses to early attachment experiences.

Common Somatic and Emotional Signs of Anxiety

Symptoms of anxiety can manifest in the body, emotions, and relationships. You may experience:

Tension and Fatigue – A nervous system stuck in fight-or-flight mode uses an immense amount of energy, leading to exhaustion and burnout.
Restlessness and Hyper-vigilance – Anxiety can make it difficult to relax, as your body is scanning for potential threats, even in safe environments.
Excessive Worry and Racing Thoughts – You may feel caught in cycles of overanalyzing or trying to control outcomes as a way to create safety.
Physical Symptoms – Anxiety can live in the body as headaches, muscle tightness, digestive issues, nausea, or chest discomfort.
Disconnection or Freeze Response – Some experience anxiety as shutdown, dissociation, or a feeling of being "checked out" rather than activated.
Difficulty Trusting or Feeling Secure in Relationships – If past relational wounds have shaped your nervous system, you may find yourself anticipating rejection, struggling with boundaries, or feeling the need to constantly prove your worth.

The Path to Healing: Co-Regulation and Nervous System Support

Healing from anxiety is not just about managing symptoms—it’s about cultivating a deep sense of safety, connection, and presence within yourself and with others. Approaching therapy through a somatic attachment lens offers an opportunity to:

Co-regulate in a Supportive Relationship – A therapist can serve as a steady, attuned presence, helping your nervous system form new patterns of safety and connection, rooted in mutual understanding.
Increase Awareness of Body-Based Patterns – Tuning into the sensations and rhythms of your body can help shift from overwhelm to self-compassion, supporting a deeper connection to your body’s wisdom.
Practice Grounding and Regulation Tools – Techniques such as breathwork, movement, and mindfulness can help restore balance and ease. These practices help you stay grounded, like deep roots that anchor you through life's challenges.
Explore the Relational Roots of Anxiety – Understanding how early experiences of connection shape your nervous system can provide insight into current struggles, fostering healing in the context of safe relationships.
Cultivate More Ease and Choice – Healing anxiety is not about eliminating fear but expanding your ability to move through it with greater self-trust, agency, and presence.

For further support on your journey, feel free to explore my other blog post, where I share helpful apps to assist in practicing grounding and regulation tools.

You Don’t Have to Navigate Anxiety Alone

Anxiety is not a sign of brokenness; it is a sign that your nervous system is working hard to protect you. With the right support, you can cultivate a greater sense of safety, connection, and presence in your life.

Just as a young bird learns to trust its wings and takes flight after careful nurturing, your nervous system can heal. With time, support, and the right environment, strength builds—like the steady growth of a tree’s roots, grounding it deeply in the earth. When nurtured in a safe, compassionate space, your ability to move through challenges grows, much like the way nature’s cycles restore and renew the world around us.

Are you ready to experience more ease, choice, and relational clarity? Book a free 15-minute consultation online now or call 403-545-9056 to take the next step.