Why You Can’t ‘Just Chill’: Anxiety Explained

“Just chill.”

“Stop overthinking.”

“You’re being too sensitive.”

If you’ve ever heard these words while your heart raced, your chest felt tight, and your thoughts ran wild, you’re not alone. For many people, especially young adults today, anxiety isn’t just a momentary worry; it’s an ongoing battle that others often fail to understand.

Let’s break down what anxiety really is, why it happens, and most importantly, why you can’t simply “switch it off.”

What Is Anxiety, Really?

Anxiety is your body’s natural response to stress or danger. Imagine a built-in alarm system, which was once useful when humans had to survive wild animals or dangerous situations. But in today’s world, the danger isn’t a lion; it’s a deadline, a text left unread, or a future that feels too uncertain.

While feeling anxious occasionally is normal, anxiety becomes a problem when it’s constant, overwhelming, or starts affecting your daily life.

There are different types of anxiety, like:

• Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) - constant worry without a clear reason

• Social Anxiety - fear of being judged or embarrassed in social settings

• Panic Disorder - sudden, intense attacks of fear or discomfort

• Health Anxiety - obsession over having or getting a serious illness

Why You Can’t Just “Snap Out of It”

Telling someone with anxiety to relax is like telling someone with a broken leg to just walk it off. It’s not about weakness. It’s about biology.

Here’s what’s happening inside:

1. Brain Overdrive: Anxiety activates the amygdala, the brain’s fear center. It sends your body into fight-or-flight mode, even when there’s no real threat.

2. Body Reacts: Your heart beats faster, breathing becomes shallow, and your stomach churns. You may sweat, tremble, or feel dizzy.

3. Mind Spirals: Thoughts loop. What if something goes wrong? What if I fail? What if they hate me?

This is not something you can just turn off with a deep breath or a pep talk. Your mind and body are reacting to a perceived threat, whether or not it’s real.

Why It’s So Common Today

You’re not imagining it. Anxiety is more common than ever, especially among youngsters. Why?

 • Digital Pressure: Constant notifications, online comparisons, and the need to “stay relevant” can be exhausting.

 • Career + Financial Uncertainty: The pressure to succeed while juggling unstable job markets and rising costs causes chronic stress.

• Information Overload: We’re bombarded with news, opinions, and updates 24/7. The brain barely gets time to rest.

 • Unprocessed Emotions: From childhood to relationships, many people carry emotional baggage they were never taught to deal with.

Signs You Might Be Dealing with Anxiety

It doesn’t always look like a panic attack. Sometimes it’s subtle.

• Restlessness or feeling “on edge”

• Overthinking or imagining worst-case scenarios

• Trouble sleeping

• Tight chest or racing heart

• Irritability or snapping easily

• Avoiding people, tasks, or places

• Constant need for reassurance

If these feel familiar, you might be dealing with anxiety more than you realise.

What Actually Helps

The good news? You can manage anxiety. It may not vanish overnight, but small steps help a lot:

1. Understand Your Triggers

Is it social situations? Deadlines? Conflict? Identifying the cause helps you prepare and respond better.

2. Breathe + Ground Yourself

Simple grounding techniques like 4-7-8 breathing, naming 5 things you see, or holding something cold can bring you back to the present.

3. Move Your Body

Walking, yoga, stretching, or dancing helps release built-up stress hormones and reset your nervous system.

4. Talk It Out

Whether it’s a friend, therapist, or support group, expressing what you feel is healing. You’re not weak for needing help.

5. Reduce the Noise

Limit doom-scrolling. Mute triggering accounts. Protect your peace like it’s your job.

Final Thoughts

The next time someone says, “Just chill,” remember your feelings are real, and you deserve to understand them, not dismiss them.

You’re not alone in this. And no, you’re not “too much”; you’re just someone trying to manage the weight of a loud world.