When Anxiety Becomes Unmanageable: Signs You Should Seek Therapy

Everyone experiences anxiety from time to time. It’s part of being human. Worrying before a big presentation, feeling nervous before a difficult conversation, or stressing about a loved one’s well-being are all normal. But when anxiety begins to interfere with your daily life—your work, relationships, sleep, or peace of mind—it may be time to ask a powerful question:

Is it time to seek help?

At Cherry Creek Therapy, we help individuals across Denver navigate anxiety that has become overwhelming. Whether it’s racing thoughts that won’t shut off or avoidance that’s starting to shape your decisions, therapy can offer clarity, healing, and sustainable coping tools. If you're unsure whether your anxiety is “serious enough,” this guide is for you.

Anxiety Exists on a Spectrum—And That’s Okay

Anxiety isn’t always loud or obvious. Sometimes it’s the endless mind chatter. Sometimes it’s the tightness in your chest or the overwhelming need to control everything around you. And sometimes, it’s silence—a numbing kind of fear that keeps you stuck.

Here’s the thing: anxiety lives on a spectrum.

On one end, there’s healthy anxiety—the kind that motivates you to prepare for an exam or check that your door is locked at night. On the other end is chronic, unmanageable anxiety—the kind that hijacks your thoughts, drains your energy, and disrupts your ability to enjoy life.

8 Signs Your Anxiety Might Be Unmanageable

If you’re wondering whether it’s time to consider therapy for anxiety, here are some common red flags:

1. You feel constantly on edge or overstimulated

Even in calm situations, your body feels tense and your mind races. You may struggle to “turn off” or relax, even during downtime.

2. You can’t sleep—even when you're exhausted

You lie awake for hours replaying conversations, anticipating worst-case scenarios, or obsessing over your to-do list.

3. You avoid situations—not out of preference, but fear

Whether it’s canceling social plans, avoiding phone calls, or procrastinating at work, your anxiety starts limiting your life.

4. You’re consumed by “what ifs”

Your mind constantly replays fears about the future—many of which never come true. But they still feel very real and very scary.

5. You experience physical symptoms

Anxiety doesn’t just live in the mind. It shows up in the body, too: rapid heartbeat, tight chest, upset stomach, headaches, muscle tension.

6. You rely on short-term coping that doesn’t work

Excessive scrolling, binge-watching, overworking, substance use, or isolating may offer brief relief—but often leave you feeling worse.

7. Your relationships are starting to suffer

You may feel distant, irritable, or overly dependent on others for reassurance. Communication may feel strained or overwhelming.

8. You feel like your anxiety is running the show

Even when you know something isn’t logical, you still can’t stop the thoughts or behaviors. You feel stuck or powerless to change it.

Therapy Can Help You Reclaim Your Life

When anxiety feels like it's taken control, therapy offers a way back to yourself. At Cherry Creek Therapy, we specialize in treating anxiety through evidence-based, compassionate care tailored to each client’s emotional needs and life context.

In individual therapy, you’ll work with a trained therapist to:

• Understand the root causes of your anxiety—including past trauma, family patterns, or attachment wounds

• Identify unhelpful thought loops and behavior patterns

• Learn new tools to calm your body and quiet your mind

• Develop emotional flexibility using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

• Explore internal dynamics with Internal Family Systems (IFS) when anxiety is connected to deeper inner conflicts

Anxiety is not just about calming down—it’s about learning why you’re anxious and how to respond to it with self-awareness, not fear.

Why Seeking Help Early Makes a Difference

Anxiety tends to reinforce itself. The more we avoid, overthink, or self-isolate, the more anxiety tightens its grip. The earlier you seek therapy, the sooner you can interrupt this cycle—and the less likely it is to lead to burnout, depression, or trauma-related shutdown.

Therapy isn’t just for when you’re “falling apart.” It’s for the moment you realize, I want something better than just surviving.

You don’t have to wait until you’re overwhelmed. You deserve support the moment anxiety starts stealing your peace.