Why Am I So Anxious All the Time?

If you feel anxious most days, even when nothing obvious is wrong, you’re not imagining it.

And sometimes, anxiety seems to come out of nowhere.

You can be watching your favorite show or lying in bed — and suddenly your heart races, your chest tightens, and panic floods your body.

It’s scary.
It’s uncomfortable.
It’s frustrating.

And it can make you wonder, What is wrong with me?

As a licensed marriage and family therapist and mental health counselor, I work with many adults who say, “I don’t even know why I’m anxious. I just am.”

Anxiety does not always have a clear, logical reason. But there is almost always something happening underneath the surface. Understanding what’s happening underneath can make anxiety feel far less scary — even when it feels random.

What Does It Mean If I Feel Anxious All the Time?

Your nervous system may be staying in “alert mode” longer than it needs to.

Anxiety is your body’s built-in alarm system. It’s designed to protect you from danger. When something feels threatening, your brain activates your fight-or-flight response.

Your heart beats faster.
Your muscles tense.
Your breathing changes.

That response is helpful in real danger.

But when your nervous system becomes sensitive or overloaded, it can activate even when you are safe.

That’s when anxiety starts to feel constant or out of the blue.

Can Anxiety Happen for No Reason?

It can feel like it happens for no reason — and sometimes there is no obvious trigger.

Panic attacks, in particular, can arise suddenly. You might be relaxed, distracted, or even enjoying yourself when symptoms begin.

This does not mean you are making it up or there is something horribly wrong.

Often, anxiety is triggered by subtle internal shifts such as:

• Hormonal fluctuations
• Fatigue
• Accumulated stress
• Blood sugar changes
• A passing thought you barely noticed
• A body sensation your brain misinterpreted as danger

Your mind may not consciously register a threat — but your nervous system reacts anyway.

That’s why anxiety can feel unpredictable.

Why Does My Anxiety Feel Constant?

Your body may not be fully resetting between stressors.

Many individuals are carrying more than they realize. When stress becomes chronic, the nervous system adapts by staying slightly on guard. Over time, that “slightly on guard” feeling becomes your normal.

Here are the most common underlying reasons.

Chronic Stress Has Kept Your Body on High Alert

Ongoing stress is different from temporary stress.

Examples include:

• Long-term work pressure
• Caregiving responsibilities
• Financial strain
• Relationship tension
• Being the primary decision-maker in your family

When stress does not resolve, your body doesn’t fully relax.

Even during calm moments, your nervous system may still be bracing.

You Learned Early That You Had to Stay Alert

Anxiety often begins as adaptation.

If you grew up in an environment that was:

• Emotionally unpredictable
• Highly critical
• Chaotic
• Conflict-heavy
• Focused heavily on achievement

You may have learned to scan for problems. Hyper-awareness may have helped you navigate your early environment.

As an adult, that same pattern can look like constant anxiety — even when life is stable.

You’re Carrying Unprocessed Emotion

Anxiety is not always about fear. Sometimes it’s about emotion that hasn’t had room to be felt.

You may be:

• Suppressing anger
• Avoiding grief
• Holding silent resentment
• Managing disappointment
• Pushing aside your own needs

When emotions are repeatedly pushed down, the body often carries that load. That physical tension can feel like anxiety.

Your Mind Lives in the Future

Anxiety is future-focused.

You might notice thoughts like:

• What if I fail?
• What if they’re upset with me?
• What if something bad happens?
• What if I made the wrong choice?

Your brain reacts to imagined possibilities as if they are real.

Even if those scenarios never happen, your body has already responded.

Could Hormones or Biology Be Playing a Role?

Anxiety is not purely psychological.

Hormonal changes — especially during perimenopause, postpartum periods, or thyroid imbalance — can significantly increase anxiety symptoms. 

Sleep disruption alone can heighten anxiety sensitivity.

Many women are surprised by new or intensified anxiety in midlife. Biological factors matter. You need to work with  a provider who understands and will provide options for care.

If your anxiety feels new, intense, or physically driven, medical evaluation alongside therapy can be helpful.

Is This Just My Personality — or Could It Be Genetic?

Some people say, “I’ve always been a worrier.”

And sometimes that’s partly true.

Research shows that anxiety can have a genetic component. If one or both of your parents struggled with anxiety, you may have inherited a more sensitive nervous system.

That doesn’t mean anxiety is inevitable.
It does mean your baseline may be more reactive.

You might notice:

• You’ve felt tense for as long as you can remember
• Anxiety runs in your family
• You startle easily
• You struggle to fully relax, even in safe situations
• Calm feels unfamiliar

Genetics can load the gun. Environment and stress often pull the trigger.

If anxiety interferes with sleep, relationships, or your ability to feel present, it’s more than personality.

It’s a nervous system pattern — and patterns can change.

What Happens If Anxiety Goes Untreated?

Chronic anxiety can gradually lead to:

• Sleep problems
• Irritability
• Relationship strain
• Physical symptoms
• Emotional numbness
• Depression
• Panic attacks

Living in prolonged survival mode is exhausting for the body. Eventually, the system demands relief.

How Is Chronic Anxiety Explored in Therapy?

In our work at 515 Therapy & Consulting, therapy is not about asking, “What’s wrong with you?”

It’s about asking:

• What has your anxiety been protecting you from?
• When did your nervous system learn to stay alert?
• What stressors are still active today?
• What emotions have not had space to surface?

Anxiety often makes sense once we understand the context.

And when it makes sense, it becomes less frightening. We tackle it from every angle that makes sense.  This might be psychoeducation, therapy, medication management, or psychological testing.

Final Thoughts: Why Am I So Anxious All the Time?

Anxiety can feel random.
It can feel irrational.
It can even strike during calm moments.

But that does not mean it is meaningless.

Sometimes anxiety is about stress.
Sometimes it’s about history.
Sometimes it’s biological.
Sometimes it’s accumulated emotional load.

You are not broken.

Your nervous system may simply be tired of carrying too much for too long.

Understanding what’s happening underneath is the first step toward lasting relief.

Learn more about our anxiety therapy services in West Des Moines or virtually.