Am I Just Tired or Is It Anxiety? How to Know When to Seek Support
We all feel tired sometimes — especially if you’re balancing work, parenting, relationships, and the endless swirl of expectations. But when that tiredness feels like more than just physical exhaustion… when your mind won’t turn off even though your body is dragging… you might be wondering:
“Is this just life right now — or is this anxiety?”
If that question has been floating around in your head, you’re not alone. Many women and parents I work with say the same thing: “I thought I was just burnt out. I didn’t realize I was actually anxious.”
Let’s talk about how to tell the difference — and how to know when it might be time to seek support.
Signs It’s More Than Just Being Tired
While both tiredness and anxiety can leave you feeling drained, anxiety tends to show up in ways that go beyond physical fatigue. Here are a few signs what you’re experiencing might be anxiety:
1. Your brain won’t turn off — even when you’re exhausted.
You finally sit down or lie in bed, and instead of relaxing, your thoughts race:
“Did I say the wrong thing?”
“What if I can’t keep up?”
“What if something goes wrong?”
That mental spinning, even in quiet moments, is a hallmark of anxiety — not just tiredness.
2. You feel “on edge” or irritable all the time.
When even small things — like your partner’s tone, your child’s question, or one more notification — feel overwhelming, your nervous system might be in overdrive. Anxiety often shows up as reactivity, even when you don’t “feel anxious” in the traditional sense.
3. You’re physically feeling it, but can’t explain it.
Anxiety doesn’t just live in your mind. You might notice:
A racing heart or tight chest
Shallow breathing
Tension in your neck or shoulders
GI issues or appetite changes
If you’re feeling off physically but can’t find a medical reason, your body might be responding to stress.
4. You feel stuck in “what if” mode.
Planning ahead is helpful. Spiraling ahead isn’t.
If you’re constantly rehearsing worst-case scenarios or trying to “prepare for everything,” it might be anxiety convincing you that you have to stay hypervigilant in order to stay safe or in control.
So… Is It Time to Get Support?
Here’s the thing: you don’t have to be in crisis to start therapy.
If you’re noticing any of these signs, and they’re impacting your daily life — your sleep, your relationships, your ability to enjoy moments that matter — you don’t have to keep powering through.
Therapy can help you:
Understand where your anxiety comes from
Learn practical tools to manage it
Reconnect with yourself in ways that feel grounding and real
You Deserve to Feel Better
You don’t have to wait until everything falls apart to get support. In fact, the earlier you reach out, the more space you give yourself to heal, grow, and breathe again.
If this sounds like your experience, I’d be honored to help. I offer warm, compassionate therapy for women and parents in Nashville and across Tennessee via telehealth.
Ready to take the first step?
Schedule a free 15-minute consultation today.
You don’t have to figure this out alone .
