6 Surprising Reasons Your Anxiety Isn’t Going Away (and How Treating Anxiety Holistically Can Help)

Treating Anxiety Holistically: How to Support Both Body and Mind

If you’ve been practicing deep breathing, journaling, or seeing a therapist—and yet your anxiety still lingers—don’t worry, you’re not alone. Many people share your frustration, and guess what? It’s not because you’re “doing it wrong.” Anxiety can be more complicated than simply mental stress; it often starts in your body.

As a therapist, I hear this from clients all the time:

“I’ve tried everything, and I still feel anxious. What’s wrong with me?”

The answer is simple: nothing’s wrong with you, but anxiety might be rooted in areas you haven’t explored yet. Holistic approaches to anxiety take a deeper look at how your body, brain, and lifestyle all play a role in your emotional well-being.

🧩 What Does Treating Anxiety Holistically Mean?

Treating anxiety holistically means we go beyond thinking of anxiety as a purely mental struggle. It involves looking at the whole picture—your body, brain, habits, and environment—to find the root causes of your anxiety, not just the symptoms.

Your body can send physical signals that mimic or intensify anxiety symptoms, and those physical issues might go unnoticed. Blood sugar imbalances, gut health problems, and thyroid issues can all contribute to anxious feelings. When we only treat anxiety with therapy and coping strategies, we might be missing some of these underlying causes.

🧠 Anxiety Is Not Just Mental – It’s Physical, Too

We often associate anxiety with mental stress, but your body reacts to anxiety in physical ways too. Sweaty palms, a racing heart, trouble sleeping—these physical signs of anxiety can appear even when everything in your life seems “fine.”

Why? Because your nervous system reacts to physical changes (like hormones off balance, nutrient deficiencies, or low iron) in the same way it responds to emotional stress.

Research from Harvard Health Blog suggests that low levels of magnesium and vitamin B12 can be linked to higher anxiety symptoms. It’s a reminder that treating anxiety means looking at the whole system—mind, body, and spirit.

🛠️ Your Holistic Anxiety Toolkit

So, how can you start treating anxiety holistically? Here’s my go-to toolkit for tackling anxiety from all angles:

1. Therapy That Treats the Whole Person Look for a therapist who digs deeper than just thoughts and emotions—someone who asks about your sleep, nutrition, hormones, and overall wellness. I recommend checking out OnlineTherapy.com for flexible, messaging-based support with a holistic approach.
2. Lab Work Can Be a Game-Changer Talk to your doctor about testing for:
   • Thyroid function
   • Iron and B12 levels
   • Blood sugar and insulin levels
   • Sex hormones (especially if anxiety symptoms worsen with your cycle)

Even small imbalances can contribute to anxiety.

3. Nervous System Regulation Tools These techniques help your body feel safe, which in turn supports your brain’s ability to relax:
   • Deep breathing (long exhales work wonders)
   • Cold face plunges or showers
   • Gentle stretching or yoga
   • Singing or humming (which stimulates the vagus nerve)
4. Support Your Gut + Blood Sugar Taking care of your gut health and keeping your blood sugar stable can make a huge difference:
   • Eat protein with every meal
   • Avoid skipping meals or fasting too long
   • Limit caffeine if you’re sensitive
   • Add fermented foods or a high-quality probiotic

Research from Frontiers in Psychiatry (2020) highlights the strong links between gut health and mood, including anxiety symptoms.

5. Natural Support for Daily Calm Essential oils can have an immediate calming effect on your nervous system. Here’s what I personally use in my routine:
   • Lavender (perfect for bedtime)
   • Frankincense (great for grounding)
   • Vetiver (helps during panic)

I love using Barfut Essential Oils because they’re affordable, pure, and effective for managing anxiety.

🔄 Feeling Stuck? Here’s Where to Start:

If you’re not sure where to begin, here are a few steps to take:

• Track Your Symptoms: Pay attention to when your symptoms worsen. Look at factors like sleep, food, stress, and your cycle.
• Request Labs: Print a list of questions to ask your doctor about blood work, including thyroid, B12, and iron levels.
• Add One New Daily Practice: Try adding one new calming habit to your day—a soothing playlist, a walk, or a few drops of essential oil before bed.
• Continue Therapy: Keep up with therapy, but ask your therapist to explore the physical side of things too.

💬 Final Thought

You’re not “failing” at coping. It’s just that you might be missing a key piece of the puzzle.

Your body and brain are connected, and when you treat both, anxiety can become much more manageable.

✅ What’s Next?

• Feeling like your anxiety might be more than just emotional? Check out this Instagram post: 5 Signs Your Anxiety Might Be Rooted in Your Body, Not Just Your Mind
• Looking for natural support? Try Barfut Essential Oils here.
• Got questions or want to share your experience? Leave a comment below or DM me—I’d love to hear from you!

---