Anxiety
The Holistic Perspective
on Anxiety
Anxiety is more than just feeling nervous, it’s a heightened state of internal alert that can affect your thoughts, body, and emotions all at once. It may show up as racing thoughts, a tight chest, difficulty concentrating, or the constant sense that something is “off” or about to go wrong. In traditional frameworks, anxiety is often seen as an imbalance in the nervous and digestive systems, where energy becomes stuck or overstimulated.
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👉These are terrain-level imbalances that set the foundation for the symptom and why the imbalance exists. They create a body environment where this particular ailment is likely to appear and thrive.
Pace / Energy
Excess mental stimulation (screens, multitasking, pressure to perform) → drives excitatory overfunction.
Overthinking or mental overuse without grounding activities → burns nervous energy, destabilizes terrain.
Hormonal changes, especially cortisol dysregulation → unstable mood, sleep, and energy cycles.
Drug causes: stimulants (caffeine, nicotine, amphetamines).
Tone
Nervous system dysregulation → poor vagal tone, weak parasympathetic balance.
Spasmodic terrain → muscle tightness, restless body.
Vagus nerve dysregulation → impaired gut-brain calming feedback loop.
Collagen/mineral depletion (magnesium, calcium, zinc) → poor nerve stability.
Trauma imprint → nervous system patterned in hypervigilance.
Unresolved emotional stress (fear, guilt, worry) → conditions nervous system toward over-alertness.
Moisture / Immune
Dysbiosis and leaky gut → gut-brain inflammatory signaling.
Nutrient malabsorption (B vitamins, omega-3s) → neurotransmitter imbalance.
B vitamin or magnesium deficiency → poor synthesis of calming neurotransmitters like GABA and serotonin.
Chronic inflammation → irritates nervous system pathways.
Food intolerances (gluten, dairy) → neuroinflammatory anxiety.
GABA depletion (from stimulant overuse, trauma, or poor diet) → reduced calming signals in the brain.
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System dysfunctions that flow from terrain imbalance.
Hyperactive nervous system firing → excitatory neurotransmitter dominance.
HPA axis strain → cortisol/DHEA imbalance.
Thyroid overfunction or instability → pacing, agitation, insomnia.
Hyporesponsive adrenal or thyroid states → unstable mood and nervous tension.
Rapid neural firing → jitteriness, panic, racing thoughts.
Erratic cortisol rhythm → poor sleep-wake cycles, heightened reactivity.
Vagus nerve underactivation → weak calming signals.
Inflammatory cytokines crossing into the brain → heightened vigilance and mood swings.
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Excess caffeine, nicotine, or energy drinks.
Irregular sleep or circadian disruption.
Blood sugar swings (skipping meals, refined carbs).
Hormonal shifts (menstrual cycle, perimenopause, thyroid instability).
Alcohol (initial calm followed by rebound anxiety).
Stressful environments or trauma reminders.
Overexposure to screens or blue light at night.
Medications
Corticosteroids → mood swings.
SSRIs/SNRIs (start-up or withdrawal phases).
Herbal
Excess stimulating adaptogens (ginseng, rhodiola) → jitteriness.
Strong bitters in sensitive types → overactivation.
High-dose caffeine herbs (guarana, yerba mate).
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Nervous System: Autonomic balance, neurotransmitter activity.
Endocrine System: Adrenals, thyroid, sex hormones.
Digestive System: Gut-brain axis, microbiome.
Immune System: Inflammatory signaling to the brain.
Different Types of Anxiety
Anxiety is not just “anxiety.” It shows up in different terrain-driven expressions, each with its own character. Recognizing the subtype helps you see which root causes are most active. Anxiety isn’t a one-size category. Each subtype ties back to a different terrain pattern, whether it’s hyperactive nervous firing, hormonal overstimulation, mineral depletion, trauma imprint, or digestive disruption. This also means the underlying solutions differ: what helps “tension-driven anxiety” (relaxant and stabilizing remedies) won’t be enough for “metabolic anxiety” (where endocrine and blood sugar regulation need to be addressed).
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This form of anxiety shows up as racing thoughts, jitteriness, and sudden waves of panic. It reflects a terrain pattern where the nervous system is overstimulated and firing too rapidly. Pace/Energy – excitation, hyper-function).
Note: These patterns are not always isolated.
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This type manifests as muscle tightness, jaw clenching, and a restless body that can’t relax. It reflects spasmodic patterns in the nervous system where tone is wound too tightly. (Tone – spasmodic, tension)
Note: These patterns are not always isolated.
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This form feels like being wired but tired, your mind won’t shut off even when your body is exhausted. It reflects terrain imbalances where energy reserves are depleted and the stress response is unstable. (Pace/Energy – hyporesponsive, depressed)
Note: These patterns are not always isolated.
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This type of anxiety shows up as gut discomfort, bloating, or IBS flares that intensify with worry. It reflects microbial or mucosal imbalances in the digestive system that feed into the gut-brain loop. (Moisture – toxic congestion, mucous/boggy).
Note: These patterns are not always isolated.
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This form arises with hormonal fluctuations, often around the menstrual cycle, thyroid imbalance, or adrenal surges. It reflects endocrine-driven overstimulation that unsettles the nervous system. (Pace/Energy – irritative, congestive heat).
Note: These patterns are not always isolated.
Anxiety is a reflection of your inner terrain, not just a mental state. While root causes create the environment for it to develop, triggers like stress, diet, or stimulants often make it worse.
It’s important to know when professional medical care is needed: if anxiety is severe, constant, or accompanied by panic attacks, depression, or thoughts of self-harm, seek immediate medical attention.
For ongoing, non-emergency concerns, like persistent worry, restlessness, or stress-related digestive issues, that’s where I come in. I’ll help you uncover the terrain-level root causes and guide you toward foods, herbs, and practices that restore balance from within. If you want terrain-specific solutions tailored to your body, book a consultation with me today.
Disclaimer
Each person’s condition has a unique root cause, and lifestyle, diet and herbal remedies must be tailored to the individual. The information on this page is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for personalized care. If you’d like support in understanding your specific situation, please reach out to me for guidance.
