If you're an anxious person, you might think that rest should feel good. After all, if you're tired, overwhelmed, or stressed, wouldn't slowing down be exactly what you need?

And yet, sometimes the moment you finally sit down, your mind gets louder. You start thinking about the email you haven't answered. You remember something awkward you said three days ago. You begin making a mental list of everything you need to do tomorrow. You notice a sensation in your body and start wondering whether something is wrong. Suddenly, checking your phone, cleaning the kitchen, answering emails, or finding something else to accomplish feels much easier than simply sitting still.

Anxiety is often described as something that happens in the mind: racing thoughts, endless what-ifs, difficulty concentrating, or imagining everything that could go wrong. But if you've experienced anxiety, you probably know that it doesn't stay in your head.

Learn simple, grounding strategies for managing anxiety between therapy sessions, from mindfulness and nervous-system regulation to breaking the cycle of reassurance-seeking.