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Chronic Anxiety

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Over the years of studying human behaviour, one question has remained particularly complex: why do chronic anxiety sufferers so often push their emotional well-being to the background?

How many times have I heard patients say they just can’t relax? That they went to the beach only to return feeling exactly the same? That they took a holiday but never truly unwound? Why is it so difficult for them to switch off from anxiety?

From a biological perspective, it seems that in individuals with chronic anxiety, the amygdala remains highly sensitive, always on the verge of activation. This fuels that constant sense of uncertainty — the ever-present “what if this happens?” and “what if I can’t handle it?” As a result, the prefrontal cortex struggles to maintain rational thinking, making it easier for irrational thoughts to take hold.

Yet, just an hour of mindfulness meditation, a session of music therapy, a visit to the sauna, or even a gentle walk outdoors could be enough to ease anxiety, at least temporarily. So why do some people remain trapped in distress?

One possible explanation lies in behaviour. Many chronic anxiety sufferers internalise anxiety as part of their identity. They tell themselves, “I’m just an anxious person. That’s who I am.” The more this belief is reinforced, the deeper it becomes ingrained. Repeated behaviours strengthen neural pathways — anxiety becomes their default state simply because they are used to it.

Behaviour and biology are deeply intertwined, each reinforcing the other. Breaking free from this self-perpetuating cycle isn’t easy. And, as you can imagine, without proper medical and psychological support, it becomes even harder.

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