Lara Alkurdi, LSW, MSW(She/Her/Hers)

You may look like you have it all together, but internally, anxiety can feel constant, consuming, and hard to escape

It might show up as a mind that never shuts off. You replay conversations long after they’re over, second-guessing what you said or how you came across. You anticipate worst-case scenarios, even when things are going well. You may feel a persistent pressure to stay ahead, be prepared, and never make a mistake.

For some, anxiety feels like urgency in the body, tightness in your chest, a knot in your stomach, shallow breathing, or difficulty relaxing even during downtime. You might find it hard to rest without guilt, as if slowing down means you’re falling behind.

It can also look like over-functioning: saying yes when you’re already overwhelmed, taking on more responsibility than you have capacity for, or feeling like everything will fall apart if you don’t hold it all together. You may be highly productive on the outside, but inside feel exhausted, irritable, or disconnected.

You may intellectualize your feelings, analyze yourself in real time, or feel frustrated that you “know better” but still feel stuck. It can be difficult to let yourself be supported when you’re used to being the one others turn to.

In our work together, you don’t have to manage, perform, or have it all figured out. Therapy becomes a space to slow down, understand what’s happening beneath the surface & begin relating to yourself with more clarity and compassion. We’ll work on quieting the mental noise, building emotional steadiness, and creating ways of coping that don’t rely on pushing yourself past your limits.

You don’t have to keep living in a constant state of pressure. Relief is possible—and it starts with having a space where you can finally put things down.