24/7 Anxiety, Agoraphobia Recovery, and the Fear of Fear (Q&A with Mari!)
Why Anxiety Feels Like a 24/7 Job (and How to Clock Out)
Have you ever felt like you’re a nervous wreck for absolutely no reason at all?
Maybe you’re just sitting on the couch, halfway through a Netflix show, or waiting for your toast to pop, and suddenly your heart is racing, your breath is shallow, and your brain is convinced that something is horribly wrong.
You look around and think, “There isn’t even a trigger! Why am I feeling like this?”
In my latest Q&A episode with Mari, we dove deep into the "thick of it" questions—the ones that go beyond the basics. We’re talking about that 24/7 sensitized state, the feeling of being "stuck" in agoraphobia for years, and the fear of fear itself.
If you feel like you’re constantly on high alert, here are three big takeaways from our conversation that will help you shift your perspective on recovery.
1. Your Nervous System is a Sensitive Smoke Alarm
When you’ve been anxious for a long time, your nervous system becomes sensitized. I like to compare it to a smoke alarm that is so sensitive it goes off because you made toast, not because the house is on fire.
Recovery isn't about hunting for a "missing trigger" or a hidden trauma. It’s about teaching your body that the alarm is a false one. When the alarm goes off, you don't have to run around the house screaming; you can acknowledge the noise and stay exactly where you are.
2. Panic Doesn't Care About the Map
A common question I get is: "Why is my panic showing up in places it never used to?" It’s jolting when your "safe" grocery store suddenly feels unsafe. But here is the truth: Panic isn’t logical, and it isn't location-based. It follows the meaning you give to your sensations. When panic starts "branching out," it’s actually a sign that it’s losing its rules. It’s no longer about the car or the store—it’s about your fear of the sensations themselves. When we stop trying to fix the location and start changing our relationship with the sensation, the world starts to open up again.
3. You Are Never "Beyond Saving"
I’ve had students come into my Panic to Peace program who have been housebound for 13 or 16 years. They truly believed they were the exception to the rule—that they were "too far gone" to recover.
That is a lie your anxiety tells you.
Whether you’ve been struggling for two months or two decades, your brain is capable of unlearning these patterns. Recovery often takes time because of repetition, but with the right support and a shift in how you respond to fear, it can happen much faster than you think. You don’t need to be "fixed" because you aren't broken; you’re just practiced in a habit that no longer serves you.
What’s the Next Step?
The goal isn’t to "not panic." The goal is to build so much trust in yourself that if you do panic, you know you can handle it.
If you’re ready to stop giving anxiety "front page news" in your life, give the full episode a listen. Mari and I talk about safe people, the truth about medication, and why you don't need a "perfect" gradual exposure plan to live your life.
Until next time, keep taking healthy action!
ready to stop doing it alone?
Inside my 10-week program, Panic to Peace, I’ll guide you through this work step by step and you’ll be surrounded by people who truly get it.
You don’t have to stay stuck. Healing is possible and it’s closer than you think.
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