What Might Be Underneath Anxiety and Panic?
Anxious and panicky feelings can certainly feel overwhelming. From sudden heart racing, tightness in the chest, to an urgent sense that something is wrong. Often, we rush to make the feelings stop. How could we not?! But sometimes, it can help if are are able to gently ask: What might be these anxious feelings really be about?
Anxiety is often a signal, not just a symptom. For example, it can point to feelings we’ve learned to avoid, such as grief, anger, shame, or even longing. These deeper emotions might feel too vulnerable or unfamiliar to face directly, so anxiety rises in their place like an alarm. As another example, someone may experience panic before a social event, not because they dislike people, but because being truly seen stirs fears of rejection rooted in early relationships. Or beneath chronic worry, there might be a sadness that was never quite safe to express.
If you are struggling with anxious feelings and can’t quite understand why they might be happening, you might benefit from talking to a therapist. Exploring what lies underneath anxiety doesn’t mean forcing answers. It’s about allowing space, with curiosity and care, for emotional truths to emerge. In therapy, this can be a gentle and transformative process: not just managing anxiety, but understanding what it's trying to say.
