Healing the Body’s Alarm System After Chronic Stress with Anxiety Therapy in Portland
Healing the nervous system after chronic stress can open up new possibilities for calm, connection, and ease and Portland anxiety therapy can help.
You might not remember when your body first started feeling “on alert.” That’s the body’s alarm system talking. And for many clients who seek anxiety therapy in Portland, especially those who’ve lived through ongoing stress, trauma, or systemic harm, that internal alarm isn’t broken, it’s just been overworked.
You may just know that it’s hard to relax even when nothing’s technically wrong. Your shoulders stay tense. Your breath is shallow. There’s a kind of constant scanning for what could go wrong, what you forgot, or how someone might misunderstand you. And even when you know these feelings aren’t based in immediate danger, they still feel real.
Chronic Stress Isn’t Just Mental, It’s Embodied
If you’ve lived with anxiety for a long time, your body has learned to anticipate threat even when no threat is present. This isn’t a flaw in your character or a failure of resilience. This is your nervous system doing what it’s learned to do best: protect you.
Whether your chronic stress comes from early relational trauma, systemic oppression, identity-based discrimination, or complex life transitions, the impact lingers. The body holds it. And that constant vigilance (that “just in case” tension) can slowly wear away your sense of ease.
In counseling for anxiety in Oregon, we don’t just talk about your thoughts. We gently tune into your body’s patterns of protection and ask together: What would it feel like to move through the world with a little more softness?
Why “Just Breathe” Isn’t Always Enough
Well-meaning advice often falls short when your nervous system is genuinely overwhelmed. You’ve probably heard some version of “just breathe,” “just let it go,” or “calm down.” But if your system has been in a chronic state of activation for years…or decades…these surface-level tools won’t cut it.
Instead of forcing calm, we slow down and meet your system where it is. In my work with clients in anxiety therapy in Portland, we explore nervous system regulation from a place of compassion. Through mindful self-compassion, IFS (Internal Family Systems), and trauma-informed practices, we work within your window of tolerance, not pushing past discomfort, but expanding what’s possible gently, over time.
Because you deserve more than coping. You deserve healing.
Why We Welcome Your Anxiety to the Table
Anxiety isn’t the enemy, yes, even when it feels awful. That tightening in your chest, the racing thoughts, the worst-case scenarios… they all come from parts of you that are trying to protect something tender.
One of the most powerful shifts that happens in therapy is this: you stop blaming yourself for being anxious. You start noticing the parts of you that learned to scan for danger, to keep people pleased, to perform strength when you were hurting. And we invite those parts in.
In session, we might explore questions like:
What does this anxious part need you to know?
What is it trying to protect you from?
How old does this feeling feel?
Through this process, we slowly untangle from the panic, the urgency, and the self-criticism. We learn that you are not your anxiety and that your anxiety isn’t trying to hurt you. It’s trying to keep you safe.
What Healing Feels Like
You might be wondering “what does healing the alarm system even look like?”
It often starts small. Clients might notice they don’t brace quite as hard when they get a difficult text. They may describe feeling more “in their body” rather than hovering above it. Some say they feel less guilt for resting, more ease in setting boundaries, or even a quiet sense of pride in caring for themselves in new ways.
Importantly, this isn’t about “fixing” you. It’s about understanding how your body has adapted and learning how to support yourself in ways that are aligned, kind, and affirming.
Especially for clients navigating Queer, Trans, or BIPOC identities, therapy becomes a place where we can name the systems of oppression you’ve endured without pathologizing your response. We explore the unique ways minority stress shapes your nervous system and honor the intelligence of your response.
An Invitation to Soften Without Collapse
Healing doesn’t mean that nothing ever triggers you again. It means your system doesn’t have to carry it all alone.
In anxiety therapy in Portland, we explore how to soften tension without falling apart. How to be with discomfort without getting swallowed by it. And how to create new internal pathways that support rest, safety, and connection even when life continues to be hard.
We don’t have to rush. We don’t have to bypass your lived experiences. And we don’t need to silence your anxiety, we can just stop letting it drive.
You're Not Alone and You Don’t Have to Stay in Fight-or-Flight
The effects of chronic stress are real, and you’re not weak for feeling them. Whether you’re Queer and feeling the weight of national politics, or simply human in a high-pressure world your nervous system deserves care.
Therapy for anxiety in Oregon is not about snapping your fingers and feeling better overnight. It’s about slowly rebuilding safety inside yourself. One breath. One session. One kind moment at a time.
Author Bio
Eric Goodwin, LPC, offers anxiety therapy in Portland and throughout Oregon with a compassionate, trauma-informed, and identity-affirming approach.
Hi, I’m Eric Goodwin (he/they), a Queer therapist serving Portland and all of Oregon. My approach to anxiety therapy in Portland is grounded in mindful self-compassion, parts work, and deep respect for the body’s wisdom. I specialize in LGBTQ Affirming Therapy, and supporting those navigating chronic stress or identity-based trauma. If you’re ready to explore your anxiety without shame, and maybe even with some curiosity, I’d be honored to support you. Call me at (971) 533-5590 or click here to schedule your free 15-minute phone consultation.
FAQs about Chronic Stress and Anxiety Therapy in Oregon
How do I know if it’s anxiety or burnout?
We’ll explore that together, without rushing to diagnose. Often, the two are closely connected, and the tools that support one will begin to soften the other. You can explore how to find the right fit for anxiety therapy in Portland.
What if I’ve lived with anxiety for so long I don’t know who I’d be without it?
That’s such a common experience. Together, we can get curious, not about erasing your anxiety, but understanding the role it’s played and whether there are other ways to feel safe and steady.
Can anxiety therapy really help if my stress is from systemic oppression?
Absolutely. Therapy won’t fix systems, but it can help you feel more resourced and supported in navigating them. It’s not about pretending it doesn’t hurt, it’s about knowing you don’t have to carry it alone without support.