5 Signs Your Anxiety Is Affecting Your Daily Life (and When to Seek Support)

Lesley Evans
Aug 12
2 min read

Updated: Aug 18

Anxiety is a normal human response — it can help us prepare for challenges, meet deadlines, or stay alert in stressful situations. But when anxiety becomes constant, overwhelming, or starts interfering with daily life, it’s time to take a closer look.

As a Counselling Therapist and Registered Psychiatric Nurse with over 30 years of experience, I’ve supported clients in Alberta and across the globe to navigate anxiety with practical tools, therapy, and (when appropriate) hypnotherapy.

If you’ve been wondering whether your anxiety has crossed the line from “manageable” to “impacting your life,” here are five signs to watch for:

1. Your Worries Don’t Switch Off

Everyone worries from time to time, but anxiety can feel like a never-ending loop of “what ifs.” Even small decisions feel overwhelming, and your mind keeps replaying possible worst-case scenarios.

2. Physical Symptoms Are Constant Companions

Anxiety doesn’t just live in your head — it shows up in your body too. This might look like:

Muscle tension
Stomach discomfort
Racing heart
Difficulty sleeping

3. Your Focus and Productivity Are Suffering

It’s hard to concentrate when your brain is on high alert. You might find yourself forgetting things, struggling to stay on task, or avoiding important responsibilities altogether.

4. You’re Avoiding People or Situations

Social anxiety, fear of judgment, or feeling overwhelmed in public spaces can lead you to withdraw from activities or relationships you once enjoyed.

5. You Feel Constantly On Edge

You might be easily startled, quick to anger, or have a general sense of restlessness that makes it hard to relax — even during downtime.

How Hypnotherapy Can Help with Anxiety

Hypnotherapy is not about losing control or being “put under.” Instead, it’s a guided process that helps you access a deeply relaxed state where your mind is more open to positive suggestions and new ways of thinking.

For anxiety, hypnotherapy can:

Reduce physical tension and help regulate your nervous system
Reframe unhelpful thought patterns
Increase feelings of calm and confidence
Support better sleep

When combined with counselling, this can create lasting changes in how you respond to stress.

Simple Strategies to Ease Anxiety Today

While hypnotherapy works at a deeper level, there are also simple things you can do right now:

Practice 4-7-8 breathing: Breathe in for 4 seconds, hold for 7, exhale for 8.
Ground yourself through your senses: Notice 5 things you see, 4 things you feel, 3 things you hear, 2 things you smell, 1 thing you taste.
Limit “what if” thinking: When your mind starts spiraling, gently ask, “What do I know for sure in this moment?”