Anxiety Is a Friend: A Somatic Approach to Listening Instead of Fighting
8/20/2025
When most people think of anxiety, they think of something to be “fixed,” “fought,” or “managed.” But what if anxiety isn’t the enemy? What if anxiety is a messenger, not a malfunction? In somatic therapy, we take a radically different approach: we learn to see anxiety as a friend—a signal from the body that something needs attention, safety, or support.
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, tense, or stuck in your head, this blog will help you shift your relationship with anxiety using somatic-based practices and a deeper understanding of your body’s wisdom.
What Is Somatic Therapy?
Somatic therapy is a body-centered approach to healing that recognizes how our experiences—especially trauma and stress—live in the body, not just the mind. Through practices like breathwork, body awareness, and nervous system regulation, somatic therapy helps us tune into physical sensations and emotions rather than intellectualizing them.
When it comes to anxiety, this is a game-changer.
Reframing Anxiety: From Enemy to Ally
Anxiety often gets labeled as “bad,” but somatic therapy teaches us that anxiety is a protective response. It’s the body’s way of saying: “Something feels unsafe.” The problem isn’t anxiety itself—it’s how we relate to it.
🔸 Instead of asking, “How do I get rid of this anxiety?”
Try asking, “What is this anxiety trying to tell me?”
This shift helps you move out of fear and into curiosity, creating space for healing and self-regulation.
The Nervous System and Anxiety
Anxiety is deeply connected to the autonomic nervous system, specifically the sympathetic branch, which governs fight-or-flight responses. When you experience chronic stress, trauma, or uncertainty, your nervous system can become dysregulated—stuck in a heightened state of alert.
Somatic therapy works to restore nervous system balance by helping your body recognize cues of safety.
3 Somatic Practices to Befriend Your Anxiety
1. Orienting: Find Safety in the Present Moment
Look around the room slowly. Let your eyes rest on something soothing or interesting. This practice helps your nervous system realize that, in this moment, you are safe.
👉 Try this when anxiety hits—pause, look around, and name 5 things you see.
2. Grounding Through Sensation
Bring awareness to the soles of your feet. Feel the contact with the ground. Notice the weight of your body being held by the earth. Grounding brings you back into your body and out of anxious thoughts.
👉 You can also press your hands together or hold something textured (a rock, fabric) to anchor yourself.
3. Listen to the Anxiety
Instead of pushing anxiety away, close your eyes, place a hand on your heart or belly, and ask gently:
“What are you trying to protect me from?”
Then, wait. You might not get an answer right away—but the practice of listening shifts your relationship with the feeling.
Why Befriending Anxiety Works
When you stop treating anxiety like a threat and start treating it like a messenger, you reduce inner conflict. The body feels seen, heard, and safe—and over time, the volume of anxiety often decreases.
This is not about quick fixes. It's about nervous system healing, one felt moment at a time.
Final Thoughts: Your Body Is Not Against You
Anxiety is not a flaw. It’s a sign that your body is working hard to keep you safe. With somatic therapy, you can learn to work with your body rather than against it. And in doing so, anxiety becomes less of a problem and more of a guide.
So the next time anxiety rises, instead of tightening, try softening.
Lean in. Listen. Ask: What are you here to teach me?
Want to Explore Somatic Healing for Anxiety?
If you're curious about using somatic therapy for anxiety relief, reach out for a free 15 minute consultation and I’d be happy to explain more of what this looks like.
