How Somatic Experiencing® Can Help with Symptoms of Anxiety

Anxiety is often talked about as something that happens in the mind — racing thoughts, worry, or fear about what might happen next. But for many people, anxiety is first felt in the body.

A tight chest. Shallow breathing. Restlessness. Nausea. A sense of being on edge or unable to settle.

At Nurtari, we understand anxiety as a mind–body experience, which is why Somatic Experiencing® (SE) is a powerful approach for working with anxiety symptoms in a gentle, effective way.

Anxiety Is a Nervous System Response

From a somatic perspective, anxiety is often a sign that the nervous system is stuck in a state of activation. The body perceives threat — even when no immediate danger is present — and remains prepared to fight, flee, or stay on high alert.

This can happen for many reasons, including:

• Chronic stress

• Past trauma

• Overwhelm or burnout

• Medical or relational stressors

• Long-term exposure to feeling unsafe or unsupported

Importantly, this response is not a failure or weakness. It’s the nervous system doing its best to protect you.

What Is Somatic Experiencing?

Somatic Experiencing® is a body-based, trauma-informed approach to therapy that focuses on helping the nervous system regain flexibility and regulation. Rather than focusing solely on thoughts or behaviors, SE works with bodily sensations, awareness, and nervous system patterns.

SE is especially helpful for anxiety because it:

• Meets symptoms at the level where they occur — the body

• Works gradually and respectfully, without overwhelm

• Supports regulation rather than suppression of symptoms

How Somatic Experiencing Supports Anxiety Relief

1. Increasing Awareness of Body Sensations

SE helps clients notice early signs of anxiety in the body — such as tension, holding, or shallow breath — without judgment. This awareness creates choice and reduces the sense of being overtaken by anxiety.

2. Supporting Nervous System Regulation

Rather than trying to “calm down” through force or logic, SE supports the nervous system in gently completing stress responses and returning to a state of safety. Over time, the body learns it can move out of high alert.

3. Building Capacity Without Overwhelm

SE works in small, manageable steps. Clients are not asked to relive traumatic experiences or push through anxiety. This pacing helps prevent retraumatization and builds resilience gradually.

4. Restoring a Sense of Safety in the Body

For many people with anxiety, the body itself can feel unsafe. Somatic Experiencing helps rebuild trust in internal sensations so the body no longer feels like the enemy.

5. Integrating Mind and Body

As the nervous system becomes more regulated, anxious thoughts often soften naturally. SE doesn’t ignore cognition — it simply recognizes that lasting change often happens from the bottom up.

What Somatic Experiencing for Anxiety Looks Like in Therapy

In an SE-informed session, you might:

• Track sensations such as warmth, tension, or movement

• Practice grounding and orienting exercises

• Notice what helps your body feel even slightly more settled

• Learn to move between activation and calm in tolerable ways

There is no pressure to perform, explain, or "do it right." The work unfolds at your pace.

Anxiety as a Signal — Not a Problem to Eliminate

At Nurtari, we don’t view anxiety as something to get rid of as quickly as possible. Instead, we see it as information — a signal from the nervous system asking for support, safety, and regulation.

Somatic Experiencing honors this message while helping the body learn new patterns that feel more sustainable and supportive.

Who May Benefit from Somatic Experiencing for Anxiety?

SE may be especially helpful if you:

• Feel anxiety primarily in your body

• Have tried talk therapy but still feel stuck

• Experience panic, chronic tension, or hypervigilance

• Feel overwhelmed by traditional coping strategies

• Want a gentle, body-based approach to healing

Moving Toward Greater Ease

Healing anxiety doesn’t mean forcing yourself to feel calm all the time. It means helping your nervous system feel safe enough to settle — and knowing how to nurture yourself when it doesn’t.

At Nurtari, Somatic Experiencing is one of the ways we support clients in developing greater regulation, resilience, and trust in their bodies.

If you’re curious about how SE may support your experience of anxiety, we invite you to reach out and learn more.

Your body holds wisdom — and with the right support, it can also learn ease.