Ask the Nurse Practitioner Part 1: You Don’t Have to Figure It Out Alone: Is This Anxiety or Just Stress?
Stress is a normal part of being human—but when your mind and body feel like they’re on high alert most of the time, it can be a sign that your nervous system needs support, not more pressure to “just relax” (Yaribeygi, 2017). Integrative mental health approaches look at anxiety as a whole-person experience: brain, body, hormones, sleep, nutrition, and environment (Ee, 2020).
How anxiety shows up in the body and mind
Anxiety isn’t always dramatic panic attacks. It is real or perceived threats or danger. It can look and feel like:
A brain that won’t turn off, even when you’re exhausted
Feeling keyed up, irritable, or “on edge” most days
Tight jaw, neck, or shoulders, headaches, or stomach issues
Difficulty falling or staying asleep
A constant sense that something bad is about to happen
Stress tends to come and go with life events, having a known cause. Anxiety often persists, shows up in the body, and starts to shape your choices and relationships (Penninx, 2021).
Gentle tracking before your appointment
You don’t need a perfect log—just enough to see patterns. Whole-person care works best when we understand what your nervous system is dealing with.
Make a few notes on your phone about:
When symptoms show up and how long they last
Situations that reliably make things worse or better
Sleep quality and energy
Physical sensations (heart racing, nausea, tension)
How it impacts work, parenting, school, relationships, or daily tasks
This information helps your nurse practitioner distinguish anxiety from other concerns and choose targeted supports.
What to ask a nurse practitioner (integrative lens):
When you’re ready to talk with a nurse practitioner or any health care provider, you might ask:
“Could this be anxiety, or something else affecting my body and mood?”
“Are there medical or hormonal causes we should consider?”
“What treatment options fit both my symptoms and my lifestyle?”
“Are there nutrition, movement (physical activity), or mindfulness tools that could help alongside medication or therapy?”
Evidence supports combining treatments like CBT with mind–body practices such as mindfulness, relaxation training, and yoga for anxiety (Ee, 2020; Penninx, 2021).
When to seek help sooner
Reach out promptly if:
Worry or fear regularly interferes with sleep, work, or relationships
You feel overwhelmed more days than not
Symptoms are getting more intense or frequent
You’ve tried self-care and lifestyle changes and still feel stuck
Early support can prevent your nervous system from getting stuck in fight or flight mode.
A compassionate next step
You don’t have to diagnose yourself before asking for help. If your mind and body feel out of balance, that is reason enough to have a conversation.
Anxiety is treatable. Together, we’ll build a plan that may include therapy, medication when helpful, nervous‑system support, lifestyle changes, and solid social connection—designed specifically for you.
References:
Ee, C., Lake, J., Firth, J., Hargraves, F., de Manincor, M., Meade, T., Marx, W., & Sarris, J. (2020). An integrative collaborative care model for people with mental illness and physical comorbidities. International Journal of Mental Health Systems, 14, Article 83. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13033-020-00410-6
Penninx, B. W. J. H., Pine, D. S., Holmes, E. A., & Reif, A. (2021). Anxiety disorders. The Lancet, 397(10277), 914–927. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(21)00359-7
Yaribeygi, H., Panahi, Y., Sahraei, H., Johnston, T. P., & Sahebkar, A. (2017). The impact of stress on body function: A review. EXCLI Journal, 16, 1057–1072. https://doi.org/10.17179/excli2017-480