When anxiety seems to come from nowhere
Updated: Oct 29
You’re answering an email, making a cup of tea or getting ready to leave the house. Nothing particularly dramatic has happened. Then you notice that unsettled feeling, perhaps rising up in to your chest, as though something is wrong but nobody has told you what.
You run through the obvious possibilities. No crisis. No argument. No enormous deadline you’ve forgotten. So why are you anxious?
Feeling anxiety for no obvious reason can be confusing. The lack of an explanation can become another thing to worry about. Before you decide it means you’re failing to cope, it can help to separate two questions: what happened just now, and what has been happening around you lately?
The immediate trigger and the wider context
An immediate trigger is something you can identify in the moment: opening an email, anticipating a conversation or entering a place that feels uncomfortable.
The wider context might include uncertainty at work, relationship strain, money worries or a significant change, such as the hormonal changes experienced in menopause. The NHS describes several possible contributors to anxiety and notes that the reasons differ from person to person. Anxiety can also be associated with health conditions, so self-diagnosing from a feeling is not a reliable route.
You don’t need to turn this into a detective project. The questions simply give you somewhere to start. Sometimes a connection becomes clearer; sometimes it doesn’t. If the anxiety keeps coming back, getting support may be more helpful than another evening spent trying to explain it to yourself.
When the fear of the feeling joins in
Imagine feeling anxious before a meeting. On the next occasion, you may find yourself wondering whether the same thing will happen again. You could start checking your body or thinking about how to leave if you need to.
If that sounds familiar, it’s worth mentioning when you ask for support. There may be the situation itself to explore, and the worry about how you’ll feel when you get there. It doesn’t mean you’re imagining it, or that you should be able to give yourself a stern talking-to and carry on.
If you recognise this, describe the sequence in ordinary language: “I start worrying about becoming anxious before I’ve even joined the call.” That is useful detail to bring to a healthcare or therapy conversation.
A three line note for the next conversation
When you have a quieter moment, jot down three things about a recent anxious episode. A few words will do; nobody is marking your homework.
The situation: where you were and what was happening.
The expectation: what you feared or predicted, if anything.
The response: what you noticed and what you did next.
For example: “Waiting to speak in a meeting. Worried my voice would disappear. Kept checking how I felt and decided not to contribute.”
That gives you something concrete to bring to a conversation, without needing the perfect explanation. Keep it short. If making notes leaves you checking yourself more or feeling worse, put the notebook down; it’s there to help you, not give you another job.
In the moment itself, prioritise safety and what you need next. You might sit somewhere comfortable or tell somebody you’re having an anxious moment. You don’t need to complete the note while distressed.
When to seek support
Speak with your GP if anxiety keeps returning, is affecting daily life or feels difficult to cope with. NHS talking therapies are another option; adults in England can often self-refer. New or severe physical symptoms should be medically assessed rather than assumed to be anxiety.
You don’t need a polished explanation to ask for help. “This keeps happening and I don’t understand it yet” is enough to begin.
At GLOW, I’d want to hear what these moments are like for you. Is it the build-up to something? The fear of feeling anxious again? Missing out on things you’d like to do? We can explore whether my approach is a suitable fit and what other support you might need alongside it.
If you’d like that initial conversation, book a discovery call. Bring one real example; it is often a more useful starting point than finding the perfect name for everything you feel.
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