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When Worry Takes Over: Understanding Anxiety

By Hila Teller, LCSW · Licensed Clinical Social Worker · Los Altos, CA

Everyone feels anxious sometimes — before a big presentation, a difficult conversation, or an uncertain situation. That's normal. But when anxiety becomes constant, overwhelming, or starts interfering with your daily life, it may be time to get support.

As a therapist in Los Altos, CA, I work with many adults who have been living with anxiety for years — often without realizing how much it has been holding them back.

When Is Anxiety More Than Normal Worry?

Anxiety crosses the line into something worth addressing when it:

• Is present most days, not just in specific situations
• Feels out of proportion to what's actually happening
• Causes you to avoid people, places, or opportunities
• Leads to physical symptoms: racing heart, chest tightness, trouble sleeping, muscle tension
• Interferes with work, relationships, or your sense of self

Where Does Anxiety Come From?

Anxiety rarely appears out of nowhere. For many people, it has deep roots — in early experiences of unpredictability or danger, in environments where expressing emotions wasn't safe, or in patterns of perfectionism and self-criticism that formed as ways to stay safe or in control.

Understanding these roots is part of what makes psychodynamic therapy so effective for anxiety. Rather than just managing symptoms, we work to understand what the anxiety is protecting you from and how to build more sustainable inner resources.

What Does Anxiety Therapy Look Like?

In our sessions, we'll slow down and explore what's driving your anxiety — not just what you're worried about, but the deeper feelings beneath the worry. Many clients find that as they develop more awareness and self-compassion, the intensity of their anxiety begins to shift.

This isn't about eliminating all anxiety (some anxiety is healthy and useful). It's about reclaiming your life from anxiety that has grown too large.