The Most Common Anxiety Symptoms (and When to Seek Therapy in Ottawa)

Feeling anxious from time to time is a normal part of being human. But when worry, tension, or restlessness start to interfere with your daily life, it may be a sign that anxiety has become more than just stress, and that it’s time to get support.

As therapists who specialize in anxiety therapy right here in Ottawa, we often meet clients who have been struggling silently for months or even years before reaching out. Understanding what anxiety looks and feels like is often the first step toward healing.

What Anxiety Can Feel Like

You wake up with a tightness in your chest, or maybe muscle tension but you may not even notice because your mind is already racing. You go through your to-do list over and over, rushing through your morning and worrying about all the things that could go wrong that day. You glance over at your phone and see many notifications which cause you to feel overwhelmed, so you ignore them...again. Skipping social events, procrastinating, or staying in "safe" routines that keep you from doing things you actually want to do. You feel stuck and don't know how to get out.

Does this sound like you?

Anxiety can show up in both your mind and body. Some people notice racing thoughts, while others experience physical symptoms that seem to appear out of nowhere.

When Is It Time to Seek Therapy?

If anxiety starts to impact your work, relationships, or sense of self, therapy can help. You might benefit from working with a therapist if:

• You can’t “turn off” your thoughts, even when you try

• Your physical symptoms make it hard to focus or relax

• You find yourself avoiding things you used to enjoy

• You’re exhausted from feeling on edge all the time

• You want to understand why your anxiety keeps showing up

Therapy provides a safe, supportive space to explore what’s behind your anxiety, learn coping tools that actually work, and start feeling more grounded day to day.

How Therapy Helps with Anxiety

At our clinic in Ottawa, we use evidence-based approaches like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and mindfulness-based strategies to help clients:

• Identify unhelpful thinking patterns

• Learn techniques to calm the body and mind

• Build confidence in handling anxious thoughts

• Understand triggers and develop long-term resilience

Whether you prefer in-person therapy in Ottawa with Homa or virtual sessions from home with Danielle, support is available and tailored to your comfort level.