Feeling Anxious For No Reason? You Might Be Missing This....
- cm1619
- Jul 8
- 3 min read
Anxiety doesn’t always shout. Sometimes, it whispers — in the form of restlessness, irritability, overthinking, or a sudden tightness in your chest. For many of the people I work with, the biggest frustration is feeling anxious without understanding why.
The thing is, anxiety rarely comes from nowhere. It's usually a response to a trigger — something that signals to your brain and body that you’re not safe, even if there seems to be no real danger in the present moment.
Learning to identify these triggers is powerful. It puts you back in the driver’s seat. So today, I want to walk you through some of the most common anxiety triggers, how they show up, and what you can start doing about them.
1. Negative Self-Talk / Anxious Chatter
That relentless inner critic? It's more damaging than you might think. Thoughts like “I’m not doing enough,” or “Everyone else is coping better than me” flood your nervous system with stress.
This voice may sound like you — but it’s often rooted in childhood beliefs, past experiences, or the unrealistic expectations society places on us.
What helps:Start to observe your thoughts without judgment. Ask yourself: Is this thought helpful? Would I say it to someone I love? Replacing harsh self-talk with compassionate, realistic dialogue can shift your entire emotional state.
2. Overwhelm & Lack of Control
Modern life demands a lot — and if you’re juggling work, family, relationships, and your own emotional needs, it’s no wonder your nervous system feels maxed out.
When everything feels urgent, your mind defaults to anxiety to try and keep you “on alert.”
What helps:Take a pause. Brain-dump everything onto paper and ask: What absolutely must get done today? Often, it’s less than you think. Then ask: What can wait? What can I delegate or say no to? Even five minutes of this kind of questioning can calm the chaos.
3. Fear of Conflict or Criticism
Even the idea of disappointing someone or getting negative feedback can be deeply triggering — especially if you’ve learned to tie your worth to approval or keeping the peace.
This often stems from early experiences where your emotional safety depended on staying quiet, compliant, or “good.”
What helps:Practice setting boundaries. They can be very small at first, so that they don't feel out of reach. Remind yourself that conflict doesn’t equal danger. And that your needs, opinions, and feelings matter — even if they make others uncomfortable.
4. Unprocessed Trauma or Emotional Wounds
Sometimes, anxiety is your body’s way of protecting you from old pain that hasn’t yet been healed. You may not consciously remember it, but your nervous system does.
Triggers can be subtle — a tone of voice, music, smells, a place, a season. Pretty much anything — and suddenly you’re in a spiral of panic or fear that seems disproportionate to what’s happening.
What helps:Be gentle with yourself. These reactions are protective, not irrational. Tools like EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique), hypnotherapy, and nervous system regulation can help you process and release what’s stuck — without having to relive it all.
5. Exhaustion, Poor Sleep, and Lack of Boundaries
Anxiety thrives when you're drained. When your body doesn’t feel safe, rested, or respected, your stress response stays “switched on.” This makes you more sensitive to even small stressors.
And let’s be honest — most of us are taught to ignore our own needs in favour of being productive, helpful, or nice.
What helps:Prioritise self care — physically and emotionally. This might mean getting to bed earlier, creating boundaries around your time, or giving yourself full permission to rest without guilt. You are allowed to care for yourself just as fiercely as you care for others.
Awareness Is Step One — But Not the End
Recognising your triggers gives you insight. But real change only happens when you start to respond differently — not just with willpower, but with support, healing, and nervous system rewiring.
That’s the heart of the work I do. Inside my coaching programme, we go beyond surface-level coping strategies and explore the root causes of your anxiety. Together, we release what’s keeping you stuck, and build emotional resilience that actually lasts.
You deserve to do more than just “manage” your anxiety. You deserve calm, confidence and freedom.
💬 Ready to go deeper?
If this post resonated with you, and you’re ready to break free from old patterns, I’d love to help.📩 Book a free consultation or send me a message and let’s talk about what’s possible.
Chris Maragkakis. MCMA
Essex Anxiety Coach
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