{"id":2285,"date":"2026-03-10T13:47:30","date_gmt":"2026-03-10T12:47:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sonialopezpsicologaemdr.com\/?p=2285"},"modified":"2026-10-23T13:44:39","modified_gmt":"2026-10-23T11:44:39","slug":"why-anxiety-doesnt-go-away-even-if-you-try-to-control-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonialopezpsicologaemdr.com\/en\/por-que-la-ansiedad-no-se-va-aunque-intentes-controlarla\/","title":{"rendered":"Why does anxiety not go away even though you try to control it?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"sl-resumen\" style=\"background:#FFECEF;border-left:4px solid #7D1C31;border-radius:8px;padding:18px 22px;margin:0 0 28px\"><p style=\"margin:0\"><strong>In short:<\/strong> the <strong>anxiety that doesn't go away<\/strong> It's not a lack of willpower. Often the body continues to react to past experiences that left an emotional imprint. Control techniques help, but they are not enough: what reduces anxiety in a lasting way is <strong>working on its origin<\/strong> so that the nervous system can feel safe again.<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<p data-start=\"641\" data-end=\"948\"><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">There is something especially frustrating about anxiety: <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">when it seems that everything is \u201cokay\u201d and, yet, your body doesn\u2019t feel that way.<\/span><br role=\"presentation\" \/><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">You may have read about breathing, tried to distract yourself, rationalized what you were doing.<\/span><br role=\"presentation\" \/><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">It happens\u2026 and yet, the knot in the stomach appears. The tension in the chest returns. The<\/span><br role=\"presentation\" \/><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">The mind speeds up. And then the question arises: why do I keep doing this if I know that nothing is happening?<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:32px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What anxiety really is (beyond the symptoms)<\/h2>\n\n\n<p><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">When we talk about anxiety, we usually think of symptoms:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">Palpitations.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">Feeling of suffocation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">Catastrophic thoughts.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">Insomnia.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">Irritability.<\/span><\/li>\n<li>Need for control.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">But anxiety is not the enemy. <strong>It is a protection system.<\/strong> The problem appears<\/span><br role=\"presentation\" \/><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">when that system is activated too easily or with too much intensity, even when it is no longer necessary.<\/span><br role=\"presentation\" \/><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">There is a real danger. That is where many people start to feel exhausted.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:32px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Persistent anxiety: when the body does not disconnect<\/h2>\n\n\n<p data-start=\"1806\" data-end=\"1928\"><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">One of the things I hear most often in consultations is: <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">\u201cI don\u2019t understand why I\u2019m acting this way when I know it doesn\u2019t make sense.\u201d.<\/span><br role=\"presentation\" \/><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">And it is important to say something clearly: anxiety does not always respond to logic,<\/span><br role=\"presentation\" \/><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"><strong>responds to emotional memory<\/strong>.<\/span><br role=\"presentation\" \/><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">Our brain stores experiences that were lived with fear, insecurity, or<\/span><br role=\"presentation\" \/><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">overflow. <\/span><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1806\" data-end=\"1928\"><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">Although we rationally know that \u201cit has already happened,\u201d the body can still continue. <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">reacting as if it were still happening.<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1806\" data-end=\"1928\">That's why sometimes anxiety:<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1806\" data-end=\"1928\">\n<ul class=\"ul1\">\n<li class=\"li1\">It appears in affective relationships.<\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\">It is activated in the face of criticism or conflict.<\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\">It arises in times of change.<\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\">It intensifies when we feel uncertainty.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:32px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Trying to control anxiety doesn't always work<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n<p class=\"p1\">Many people come to therapy after having tried for years to control their anxiety:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"ul1\">\n<li class=\"li1\">Avoiding situations<\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\">Anticipating all possible scenarios<\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\">Striving to be always strong<\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\">Seeking constant explanations<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"p1\">But anxiety doesn\u2019t disappear when we fight it without understanding it. It reduces when we listen to it and work out its origin.<\/p>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:32px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><br><strong>What is underneath the anxiety?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n<p class=\"p1\">In many cases, when we delve deeply and without forcing the pace, we discover that anxiety is linked to:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"ul1\">\n<li class=\"li1\">Past experiences that generated insecurity<\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\">Moments when the person felt alone or overwhelmed<\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\">Situations where he couldn't express what he felt<\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\">Stories of demanding, fear of making mistakes or rejection<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"p1\">We don't always talk about <a href=\"https:\/\/sonialopezpsicologaemdr.com\/en\/dissociation-and-trauma\/\">major traumas<\/a>. Sometimes they are seemingly \u201cnormal\u201d experiences that left an emotional mark.<\/p>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:32px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><br><strong>Anxiety can decrease when the nervous system feels safe<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n<p class=\"p1\">Therapeutic work does not consist only in learning techniques to calm anxiety \u2014 although that is also important. It consists of helping your nervous system stop living in a constant state of alert. When the experiences that underlie the discomfort are worked on, for example with the <a href=\"https:\/\/sonialopezpsicologaemdr.com\/en\/emdr-therapy\/\">EMDR therapy<\/a>, The body starts to react differently.<br \/>The intensity is low.<br \/>The frequency decreases.<br \/>The feeling of control ceases to be forced.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">And something new appears: <strong>Internal security<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><br><strong><br><strong>Asking for help is an act of self-care<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:32px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"p1\">Sometimes we wait too long before asking for support. We think we should be able to handle it on our own. That it\u2019s not \u201cthat serious.\u201d That others are going through worse things.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">But living with constant anxiety wears you down. And you don't have to get used to it.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">If you feel that anxiety is affecting your well-being, your relationships, or your daily life, it may be a good time to seek help. <a href=\"https:\/\/sonialopezpsicologaemdr.com\/en\/book-your-session\/\">understanding what is holding it up<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Anxiety does not appear by chance. And it does not transform by chance either.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">With the <a href=\"https:\/\/sonialopezpsicologaemdr.com\/en\/services\/\">adequate accompaniment<\/a>, It is possible to understand it, regulate it, and live with greater balance.<\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Frequently asked questions about anxiety<\/h2>\n\n\n<div id=\"rank-math-faq\" class=\"rank-math-block\">\n<div class=\"rank-math-list\">\n<div id=\"faq-question-1001\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question\">Why do I feel anxious if nothing is happening to me?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer\">\n\n<p>Because anxiety does not always respond to what is happening now. The brain stores experiences of fear or insecurity, and the body can continue to react as if the danger continues even though you know there is no reason for it.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1002\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question\">Is anxiety cured or just controlled?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer\">\n\n<p>With proper treatment, anxiety can be significantly reduced and stop conditioning your daily life. In addition to learning to regulate it, therapy also works on the experiences that keep it going so that the body stops living in a state of alert.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1003\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question\">Does EMDR therapy work for anxiety?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer\">\n\n<p>Yes. EMDR therapy helps process the experiences that are at the root of anxiety so that they lose their emotional charge. It can be done online via video call and is always adapted to the pace of each person.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1004\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question\">When is it advisable to seek professional help?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer\">\n\n<p>When anxiety appears frequently, it prevents you from resting, affects your relationships or your work, or you have been trying to control it for a long time without success. If at any time you feel you can\u2019t take it anymore or have thoughts of harming yourself, call 024 or go to the emergency room.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>En resumen: la ansiedad que no se va no es falta de fuerza de voluntad. Muchas veces el cuerpo sigue reaccionando a experiencias pasadas que dejaron una huella emocional. Las t\u00e9cnicas de control ayudan, pero no bastan: lo que reduce la ansiedad de forma duradera es trabajar su origen para que el sistema nervioso vuelva [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":2608,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_joinchat":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2285","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ansiedad"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sonialopezpsicologaemdr.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2285","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sonialopezpsicologaemdr.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sonialopezpsicologaemdr.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sonialopezpsicologaemdr.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sonialopezpsicologaemdr.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2285"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/sonialopezpsicologaemdr.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2285\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2687,"href":"https:\/\/sonialopezpsicologaemdr.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2285\/revisions\/2687"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sonialopezpsicologaemdr.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2608"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sonialopezpsicologaemdr.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2285"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sonialopezpsicologaemdr.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2285"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sonialopezpsicologaemdr.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2285"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}