The Body Keeps the Score of Anxiety: Why You Still Feel On Edge (Even When Life Is ‘Fine’)
You wake up with your heart already racing. There's no looming deadline, no fight with a friend, no real reason to feel on edge—and yet, there it is:
That low buzz of dread. The tightness in your chest. The urge to scroll, distract, or overthink.
If this sounds familiar, you're not alone. Many of my clients come to anxiety therapy in Washington, DC and Virginia saying some version of: "I have a good life. Why do I feel like I'm constantly waiting for the other shoe to drop?"
As an anxiety therapist in Washington, DC and Virginia, I hear this all the time. And here’s the truth: not all anxiety starts with your thoughts. Sometimes, anxiety is a story your body is still telling—even when your mind doesn't understand the plot anymore.
The Body Remembers: When Anxiety Doesn’t Make Logical Sense
When people think of anxiety, they often think of racing thoughts, excessive worrying, or mental spirals. But for many, anxiety starts in the body: a racing heart, shallow breath, tense muscles, or a gut that just won't settle. And when those sensations show up without a clear trigger, it can feel disorienting—or even shameful.
But here's what you need to know: your nervous system is not always working with the most current information.
If you've experienced chronic stress, trauma, or years of pushing through perfectionism and pressure, your body may still be living in a state of high alert. This is especially true for clients I see who identify as high-functioning, creative, or neurodivergent.
You might be able to "logic" your way through situations—but that doesn't mean your body has caught up.
Why Talk Therapy Alone Sometimes Isn’t Enough
Traditional talk therapy can be incredibly validating and helpful. But if your anxiety lives in your nervous system, your muscles, or even your breath, simply talking about it may not move the needle. That’s where a more holistic approach to anxiety treatment becomes essential.
As an anxiety therapist serving both Washington, DC and Virginia, my practice is rooted in mind-body approaches that help you understand your anxiety on every level: cognitive, emotional, somatic, and relational.
We work with the "felt sense" of anxiety — not just the thoughts about it.
How My Integrative Approach to Anxiety Therapy Can Help
I draw on several deeply effective, evidence-informed modalities that get to the root of anxiety—even when it doesn’t seem to make sense:
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
IFS helps you understand the different "parts" of yourself that may be trying to keep you safe—often in overworked or outdated ways. That part that worries obsessively? That freezes or procrastinates? That wants to be perfect? We get to know those parts, with compassion, and gently help them unburden what they’ve been carrying for too long. Clients often report a sense of relief and clarity as they connect to their core Self—a steady, calm presence that can lead from within. IFS is a powerful part of anxiety therapy in both Washington, DC and Virginia because it works at the root level of internal conflict and self-criticism.
Sensorimotor Psychotherapy
This modality is all about listening to the body’s story. We explore how anxiety lives in your posture, your breath, your impulses. Maybe your shoulders always rise without you noticing. Maybe you feel like you can never quite exhale. Sensorimotor Psychotherapy allows us to track these patterns gently and shift them through awareness, movement, and mindfulness. For many clients, this leads to a deep sense of embodiment and relief—like their body is finally getting the memo that it's safe now. Somatic therapy for anxiety like this can be transformational.
Learn more about Sensorimotor Psychotherapy here!
EMDR Therapy
EMDR is a powerful tool for processing unresolved memories and stressors that may be keeping your nervous system stuck in "on" mode. Even if you don't have a clear trauma history, EMDR can help you reprocess overwhelming experiences that your brain and body haven’t fully integrated. For anxiety, this can mean finally feeling less reactive, less triggered, and more in control. EMDR for anxiety is a client favorite for good reason—it often creates noticeable shifts in both mind and body.
Learn more about EMDR therapy here!
Therapy Intensives
Sometimes, traditional weekly sessions aren't enough—especially when anxiety is taking up so much bandwidth. Therapy intensives allow us to do deeper work in a shorter amount of time. Clients often experience meaningful shifts after just one or two intensive sessions. This is especially helpful for high-achievers who want to address anxiety more efficiently, or for those who feel stuck in standard talk therapy. If you're searching for a faster path forward, therapy intensives for anxiety may be the right fit.
Learn more about therapy intensives here!
Anxiety Therapy That Respects Your Intelligence and Your Sensitivity
Many of my clients are incredibly insightful, self-aware, and accomplished. They've read the books. They've tried the apps. They've been to therapy before. And still, they find themselves looping in anxiety, stuck in cycles of overthinking, avoidance, or burnout.
That’s why my work is so individually tailored. Cookie-cutter therapy doesn't work for people like you. I take the time to really get to know your internal landscape—what your anxiety feels like, what it protects, and what it might be trying to tell you.
Together, we find what actually helps you regulate. What allows you to feel more present, connected, and in charge.
Real Healing Looks Like This
Clients I work with in anxiety therapy often begin to notice:
A new sense of calm in their body, even in situations that used to spike their anxiety
The ability to pause, breathe, and respond instead of react
Greater clarity about what they want and need—in relationships, in work, in life
More ease and joy in social situations, where they used to feel tense or drained
The confidence to set boundaries and move through the world with more self-trust
It doesn’t mean anxiety goes away forever. But it does mean you’re no longer at its mercy. You learn how to be with it, without spiraling. How to slow it down. How to tend to it with the right tools, the right support, and a deeper sense of inner safety.
Learn more about therapy for anxiety here!
Let’s Get to the Root
If you’re tired of managing your anxiety like it’s a problem to fix and ready to actually understand what your system needs to feel safer—I’d be honored to help. Whether you’re in Washington, DC or Virginia, I offer both weekly anxiety therapy and therapy intensives tailored to your schedule and needs.
Looking for an anxiety therapist in Washington, D.C. or Virginia who offers a holistic, body-based approach to healing?
Take your first step towards a new sense of calm, clarity, and self-trust in your life.
(Washington, D.C. and Virginia residents only)
About the author
Margot Lamson, LICSW, is a licensed psychotherapist offering in-person and virtual therapy in Washington, D.C. and Virginia. She is trained in multiple trauma-focused approaches, including EMDR, IFS, and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy to support clients seeking meaningful and lasting healing. Margot also provides intensives, combining evidence-based and holistic techniques, to help clients achieve significant progress and feel better faster in a focused, supportive setting.
