I Can't Control My Anxiety and It's Ruining My Life
You know the worry is taking up too much space, but knowing that hasn't made it stop. You rehearse conversations, avoid decisions, and lie awake thinking about what might go wrong. If you've caught yourself thinking, I can't control my anxiety and it's ruining my life, therapy in Chicago can help you understand what's happening and learn different ways to respond.
Why anxiety feels like it's running your life
Anxiety affects both your body and the way you interpret situations. A tense conversation, a mistake at work, or an uncertain outcome can trigger a rush of what-ifs. Your heart races, your attention narrows, and the worst possible outcome starts to feel inevitable.
When the same thoughts keep returning, you can get caught in a cycle of constant worrying and overthinking that makes it harder to rest, decide what to do, or focus on anything else.
Some of the beliefs underneath that reaction sound like demands: I can't mess this up. This has to go perfectly. If they're upset, it's a disaster. Those expectations can make everyday uncertainty feel threatening, even when there is no immediate danger.
What struggling with anxiety doesn't mean about you
You may have tried breathing exercises, distracting yourself, or telling yourself to relax. Those strategies can be useful in the moment, but they may not address the expectations and fears that keep anxiety coming back.
Struggling with anxiety doesn't mean you're failing. Habits of thinking and responding can become difficult to interrupt, particularly when you're already exhausted. Learning to recognise those patterns gives you something specific to work on, rather than another reason to criticise yourself.
How do you know when anxiety needs professional help?
Some anxiety is a normal response to stress and uncertainty. It's worth seeking support when anxiety starts affecting your sleep, relationships, work, or everyday decisions.
You might notice that:
- You avoid conversations, decisions, or situations because the worry feels overwhelming.
- Your sleep, concentration, or appetite has changed.
- You spend much of the day anticipating problems or replaying what happened.
- You're increasingly organising your life around preventing anxiety.
If you've been feeling anxious all the time , you don't have to wait for it to become more disruptive before asking for help. If you're also experiencing episodes of intense fear, a racing heart, or shortness of breath, you can learn more about help for anxiety and panic attacks in Chicago .
How therapy at Restartt works with anxiety
At Restartt, anxiety therapy is active and skills-based. We use Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), an approach within cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), to examine the beliefs that may be intensifying worry and fear.
Sessions focus on real situations from your life. We look at what happened, what you told yourself about it, and how you responded. Then we question rigid demands, such as I absolutely must get this right, and practise more flexible ways of thinking. We often work at a whiteboard, and you'll have something concrete to practise between sessions.
Appointments are available in person at our downtown Chicago office on North Michigan Avenue or online across Illinois. If you're looking for structured support, learn more about working with an anxiety therapist in Chicago, IL .
Progress looks different for everyone. The aim is to help you recognise unhelpful beliefs, respond to uncertainty with greater flexibility, and use the skills in daily life, not just during appointments.
Questions about managing anxiety
Why can't I just calm myself down when anxiety hits?
Anxiety isn't always something you can switch off on command. Grounding and breathing techniques may help you settle during an anxious moment, but it can also help to examine the thoughts that make a situation feel unbearable. REBT gives you a way to identify those beliefs and practise responding to them differently.
How long before anxiety therapy actually helps?
There's no fixed number of sessions. The pace depends on what you're experiencing, your goals, and how you're able to use the skills between appointments. Because Restartt's approach is structured, you'll work on specific strategies in sessions and have opportunities to practise them in everyday situations.
A simple next step
Angela Orlando Cameli, LCSW, CADC, offers anxiety therapy through Restartt. If anxiety has started shaping your choices or making ordinary days harder, you can request a free 15-minute consultation to ask questions and find out whether this approach is a good fit. You can also request an intake appointment directly.
Request a Free 15-Minute Consultation