Feeling Anxious but Nothing Is “Wrong”? Hello Existential Anxiety
When Life Looks Fine—but Doesn’t Feel Okay
You’ve built a good life. You’re competent, responsible, maybe even successful. From the outside, there’s nothing “wrong.” But inside, something feels off.
You wake up with a racing heart. You’re irritable without reason. You push through your day with a quiet sense of dread or restlessness. Maybe you’ve even Googled, “Why am I anxious when nothing is happening?”
This kind of experience is incredibly common—and often overlooked or misunderstood.
As a therapist working with adults in the Greater New Orleans area and online, I see many high-functioning clients who experience anxiety that doesn’t point to any single event or crisis. It’s more like a low, constant hum—a subtle but insistent message that something deeper wants attention.
Invisible Anxiety and the Myth of “No Reason”
Not all anxiety looks like panic attacks or phobias. Some anxiety hides in plain sight—under tight shoulders, sleepless nights, overthinking, or a vague sense of emotional flatness.
This can be especially disorienting for people who are used to coping, performing, and showing up for others. You may wonder:
“I have a good job and decent life—why do I feel this way?”
“Maybe I’m just being dramatic.”
“If I just try harder, it’ll go away.”
But pushing harder doesn’t bring peace. It often deepens the disconnection.
This isn’t about being broken. It’s often about something deeper—unprocessed emotions, hidden grief, or a lack of meaning. That’s why therapy for existential anxiety can be so transformative.
Existential Anxiety vs. Clinical Anxiety: What’s the Difference?
Clinical anxiety is often diagnosed based on specific symptoms: excessive worry, sleep issues, or phobias that disrupt daily life. It often responds well to structured tools like CBT, medication, and behavioral strategies.
Existential anxiety, on the other hand, is more diffuse. It emerges from the deeper questions we carry but rarely ask:
Am I living the life I truly want?
Is this all there is?
What am I avoiding by staying so busy?
Who am I when I’m not achieving something?
This kind of anxiety doesn’t mean something is wrong with you—it often means something inside you is awakening.
In therapy, we don’t rush to quiet these questions. We create space to explore them gently and honestly. Sometimes what we need isn’t a solution—but a shelter to reflect, grieve, and grow.
What Is Your Anxiety Trying to Say?
Anxiety can be a messenger—not just a problem. Your body might be telling you that you’re tired of striving. Your soul might be asking for more meaning, connection, or rest.
In existential therapy, we listen to anxiety instead of trying to silence it. Together, we might explore:
The longing for something more meaningful
The hidden griefs you carry
The tension between who you are and who you think you “should” be
The parts of you that long for change
This isn’t always a quick process. But it’s an honest one. And ultimately, it’s liberating.
Slow Down—Don’t Power Through
If you’re someone who copes by being busy, achieving, or staying “strong,” it can feel counterintuitive to slow down. But that’s often where clarity emerges.
Therapy invites a new kind of pause. One where you’re not fixing or pushing—but noticing, feeling, and reconnecting.
You don’t have to have a crisis to ask for support. If you feel anxious and don’t know why, that alone is a reason to reach out. It means something inside you is asking to be seen.
Ready to slow down and listen to what your anxiety is telling you?
I offer anxiety therapy for adults in New Orleans and online. Whether your anxiety is loud or quiet, clinical or existential, I’m here to help you explore it with compassion and curiosity.
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