Maybe your mind runs a marathon at 2 AM when all you want to do is sleep. Maybe your chest tightens at the thought of sending an email. Maybe you overthink every text, every decision, every possible outcome—until you’re paralyzed by the sheer weight of what ifs.
It’s exhausting. And it’s not something you should have to battle alone.
Our therapists help you untangle the relentless mental knots, calm your nervous system, and—most importantly—take back control from the anxiety that’s been calling the shots.
Signs of Anxiety
Anxiety shows up in so many different ways and everyone experiences it differently. It doesn’t always look like a full-blown panic attack. Sometimes it’s quieter. Sneakier. It hides behind habits, excuses, and that omnipresent feeling that something is just a little bit off.
Sometimes, anxiety has become so ingrained in our day-to-day, that we hardly recognize it as anything but the norm.
You might recognize it as:
You wake up already feeling behind, your mind running through to-do lists before you get out of bed.
You can’t understand why you’re starting to sweat and your heart is pounding as you think about an upcoming client meeting
Social plans feel exhausting, even with people you love.
Your sleep is a mess—either you can’t fall asleep, or you wake up in a panic at 3 AM.
Every small decision feels high-stakes, and you find yourself overanalyzing emails and texts, only to worry about what you said afterwards.
You can’t relax without feeling guilty for not being productive.
Curious about others? Take a look at a longer list of symptoms below.
In a city where people wear their ambition on their sleeves, it’s easy to ignore these signs and push through. But we both know that pushing through isn’t fixing anything.
How Therapy Can Help with Anxiety
Anxiety thrives in isolation. The longer you tell yourself you can handle it on your own, the more overwhelming it feels.
And if anxiety had an off-switch, you definitely would’ve found it by now. Therapy won’t make you immune to stress, but it will help you stop feeling like you’re drowning in it.
Through therapy, you can:
- Learn practical tools to calm your nervous system in real time (“just relax” isn’t a treatment plan).
- Identify the thought loops that keep you stuck—and break free from them.
- Learn how to tolerate uncertainty instead of spiraling into worst-case scenarios.
- Stop avoiding and start moving through fear with confidence.
- Understand where your anxiety comes from—whether it’s perfectionism, people-pleasing, past trauma, or something else entirely—and actually heal.
- Manage overwhelming emotions without numbing out or avoiding them.
- Practice actually resting and recharging (without feeling like you’re falling behind).
Therapy isn’t about forcing yourself to be "fearless." It’s about learning how to live fully, even with fear in the passenger seat.
Our Approach to Anxiety Therapy
There’s no one way to treat anxiety, and we don’t do cookie-cutter therapy.
But here’s what you can expect from working with us:
We won’t just nod and ask, “How does that make you feel?” Expect real talk, real solutions, and zero judgment.
Support That’s Direct but Compassionate:
No vague advice, no nonsense. Just strategies you can actually use in your daily life.
Practical, Real-World Tools:
Because sometimes, the problem isn’t in your head—it’s in your nervous system.
Mindfulness & Somatic Work:
Anxiety loves to lie to you. We’ll teach you how to catch the lies and rewrite the script.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT):
Anxiety might feel like it’s running the show, but therapy helps you take the power back.
Who We Work With
We work with people who are tired of venting about how anxiety is running their lives and ready to explore, follow their curiosity, and brave the depths of their own uncertainty.
(Yes, we see you.)
Anyone who feels like their brain won’t shut up.
navigating culture shock, loneliness, and the stress of starting over.
Expats and transplants
overwhelmed by deadlines, social expectations, and the existential dread of "what am I doing with my life?"
College students
who look successful on the outside but are secretly battling imposter syndrome and performance anxiety.
High-achievers, professionals, and entrepreneurs
What to Expect in Anxiety Therapy
Compare this to the bottled up emotional explosion that will inevitably happen without it.
Here’s what you can expect when you’re ready to feel better:
01/ A Safe, Judgment-Free Space. Therapy isn’t about “fixing” you. It’s about helping you understand yourself.
02/ Personalized Treatment. Your anxiety is unique, and so is our approach. No “one-size-fits-all” BS.
03/ Tools You Can Use Right Away. Yes, we’ll talk about feelings. But we’ll also provide strategies and tactical tools that anyone can use and that have been shown to reduce anxiety symptoms.
We Specialize in Therapy for Anxiety in NYC and Across New York State
At LightLine Therapy, we have therapists who specialize in anxiety treatment—and who get that you need more than just a sympathetic ear.
Just select a therapist, book a free consultation in a few clicks, and show up as you are.
FOUNDER & CLINICAL DIRECTOR
Therapist
What are the Symptoms of Anxiety?
Physical Symptoms of Anxiety
- Increased heart rate: Feeling like your heart is racing or heart palpitations
- Sweating: Excessive sweating, often unrelated to physical exertion or temperature
- Trembling: Noticeable shaking in the hands or other parts of the body
- Shortness of breath: Feeling like you can't catch your breath or are being smothered
- Muscle tension: Tight, stiff, or sore muscles
- Fatigue: Feeling unusually tired or exhausted
- Headaches: Frequent or intense headaches
- Nausea or gastrointestinal issues: Stomach aches, nausea, diarrhea, or other digestive problems
- Dizziness or lightheadedness: Feeling faint or unsteady
Emotional Symptoms of Anxiety
- Excessive worry: Persistent and uncontrollable worry about everyday things
- Fear: Intense and sometimes irrational fears or dread
- Restlessness: Feeling on edge or unable to relax
- Irritability: Becoming easily frustrated or annoyed
- Sense of impending doom: Feeling that something terrible is about to happen
Mental Symptoms of Anxiety
- Racing thoughts: Having rapid or repetitive thoughts
- Difficulty concentrating: Trouble focusing or keeping your mind on one thing
- Memory problems: Difficulty remembering things, especially new information
- Catastrophizing: Always expecting the worst possible outcome
- Intrusive thoughts: Unwanted and distressing thoughts that are hard to control
Behavioral Symptoms of Anxiety
- Avoidance: Steering clear of places, people, or situations that might trigger anxiety
- Procrastination: Putting off tasks or responsibilities due to fear or dread
- Compulsions: Repeating certain behaviors or rituals to alleviate anxiety
- Restlessness: Pacing, fidgeting, or being unable to sit still
- Social withdrawal: Avoiding social interactions and activities
What are the Symptoms of Anxiety?
What are Anxiety Disorders?
Depending on how you experience anxiety and the combination of symptoms you’ve noticed, you might have a specific anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders are different from normal feelings of anxiety that everyone goes through from time to time - they’re more intense and usually involve prolonged periods of anxiety that can have a negative impact on your day-to-day functioning and quality of life.
A few of the most of common anxiety disorders are:
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Somebody with Generalized Anxiety Disorder usually experiences constant and excessive worry about different aspects of their daily life, such as work, health, or social interactions. Specifically, this might look like restlessness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, irritability, and muscle tension. When these symptoms reach a point where they interfere with the person’s ability to function in everyday activities, it’s usually an indicator of Generalized Anxiety Disorder.
Panic Disorder
Panic Disorder involves recurrent, unexpected panic attacks—sudden periods of intense fear or discomfort that reach a peak within minutes. These attacks go hand-in-hand with physical symptoms like heart palpitations, sweating, trembling, shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, and a fear of losing control or dying. Panic Disorder often leads to persistent worry about having more attacks and behavioral changes in order to avoid them.
Social Anxiety Disorder (or Social Phobia)
Social Anxiety Disorder is characterized by an intense fear of social or performance situations where an individual might be scrutinized by others. This fear often leads to avoidance of such situations (or experiencing them with significant distress), along with physical symptoms like blushing, sweating, trembling, and difficulty speaking. Social Anxiety Disorder can have a severe impact on one’s daily functioning and their social/romantic relationships.
Specific Phobias
Phobias revolve around an intense, irrational fear of a particular object or situation. You’re likely familiar with the most well-known phobias, such as phobias of heights, certain animals, or flying. When somebody with a phobia is exposed to the stimulus trigger, they experience immediate anxiety and panic-like symptoms. People with phobias tend to go to great lengths to avoid the phobic object or situation, which can significantly impair their daily life.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder causes people to experience obsessions—repeated, intrusive thoughts or urges—and/or compulsions—repetitive behaviors or mental acts performed to reduce anxiety. Common compulsions include handwashing (or other forms of maintaining cleanliness), checking (an alarm, a locked door, etc), and counting (tiles on a floor, objects in a room, etc), which are time-consuming, distracting, and can cause significant distress when the compulsion is interrupted or restricted.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder–also a trauma-related disorder–develops after somebody experiences or witnesses a traumatic event, such as violence, a natural disaster, or an accident. Symptoms include intrusive memories, flashbacks, or nightmares about the event, avoidance of reminders, negative changes in thoughts and mood, and hyperarousal symptoms like being easily startled or feeling tense. Untreated PTSD can make it difficult or even impossible to maintain personal, social, and occupational functioning.
Separation Anxiety Disorder
A person with Separation Anxiety Disorder experiences excessive fear or anxiety about being separated from attachment figures. Separation anxiety is typically seen in children, but can also affect teenagers and adults. Symptoms include worrying about losing the attachment figure, refusing to be alone or go out, having nightmares about separation, and physical complaints like headaches or stomach aches when separation occurs or is anticipated.
What are Anxiety Disorders?
What’s the difference between anxiety and everyday stress?
Everyday Stress
Stress is a natural response to life’s demands. It’s usually tied to a specific situation—deadlines, conflicts, big decisions—and once that situation is resolved, the stress tends to fade. Stress can even be helpful in small doses, keeping you motivated and focused.
Signs of everyday stress:
- Feeling temporarily overwhelmed but still able to function
- A clear trigger (work, relationships, responsibilities)
- Symptoms ease up once the situation improves
- Can often be managed with rest, exercise, or short-term coping strategies
Anxiety
Anxiety, on the other hand, sticks around even when there’s no obvious reason for it. It’s persistent, often irrational, and doesn’t always go away when a stressful situation resolves. It can create a sense of dread, excessive worry, or even physical symptoms that interfere with daily life.
Signs of anxiety:
- Worrying excessively, even when things are going well
- Overanalyzing or catastrophizing situations
- Physical symptoms (racing heart, dizziness, muscle tension)
- Avoiding situations due to fear or dread
- Feeling constantly on edge, even in low-stress environments
What’s the difference between anxiety and everyday stress?
Other Areas We Specialize In
Depression can make life feel bleak and hopeless. Our therapists will help you understand the impact of different triggers and provide a path to process emotional pain, develop coping skills, and rediscover lost parts of yourself.
Depression
We all have to work (at least most of us do) - but we don’t have to feel dread going to bed every Sunday night. Therapy focused on work stress can help you improve your relationship with your job, or help you find a new one.
Work Stress + Burnout
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