Anxiety therapy in Brooklyn often helps people understand why anxiety can feel so exhausting. Many people think of anxiety as worry, panic, or racing thoughts, but anxiety can also affect the body. It may leave you feeling tired, tense, unfocused, emotionally drained, or unable to fully rest.

At Resilient Mind Psychotherapy, our Brooklyn therapists support clients who are dealing with anxiety, stress, overthinking, panic symptoms, social anxiety, burnout, and emotional overwhelm. If you often feel tired but cannot relax, anxious but depleted, or mentally “on” even when your body needs rest, anxiety may be part of the picture.

Can Anxiety Really Make You Feel Tired?

Yes, anxiety can contribute to fatigue. When your mind is constantly scanning for danger, replaying conversations, worrying about the future, or preparing for worst-case scenarios, your body may stay in a heightened state of alert.

This can be draining.

Anxiety can keep the nervous system activated, interfere with sleep, increase muscle tension, and make it harder to mentally recover after stress. Over time, even if you are getting through the day, you may feel exhausted from the constant internal effort.

Anxiety-related tiredness may feel like:

Low energy
Mental fog
Heavy limbs
Difficulty focusing
Emotional exhaustion
Trouble getting restful sleep
Feeling tired but wired
Needing more time to recover after social situations
Feeling drained after overthinking or worrying

Fatigue does not always mean anxiety is the only cause. Tiredness can also be related to sleep problems, depression, medical conditions, medications, nutrition, hormones, or chronic stress. If fatigue is new, intense, or persistent, it is important to speak with a healthcare provider.

Why Anxiety Can Be So Exhausting

Anxiety is not just “in your head.” It can affect thoughts, emotions, behavior, sleep, and physical sensations. When anxiety is active, your body may respond as if something needs your immediate attention, even when there is no direct danger.

Your body stays on alert

Anxiety can create a fight-or-flight response. Your heart rate may increase, your muscles may tighten, your breathing may change, and your body may prepare to respond to a perceived threat.

Even if nothing visible is happening on the outside, your body may be working hard internally.

Worry uses mental energy

Constant worry can feel like a full-time job. You may think through every possible outcome, rehearse conversations, replay mistakes, or try to prevent things from going wrong.

This type of mental effort can leave you feeling tired, distracted, and emotionally worn down.

Anxiety can disturb sleep

Some people with anxiety have trouble falling asleep because their mind becomes more active at night. Others wake up during the night or wake up feeling unrefreshed.

Poor sleep can make anxiety worse, and anxiety can make sleep harder. This cycle may lead to daytime fatigue, irritability, and difficulty concentrating.

Muscle tension can drain the body

Anxiety often shows up physically. Jaw clenching, shoulder tension, headaches, stomach discomfort, chest tightness, and restlessness can all take energy.

When your body is tense for long periods, fatigue can follow.

Anxiety Fatigue vs. Depression Fatigue

Anxiety and depression can both cause tiredness, but they may feel different.

Anxiety fatigue often comes with feeling tense, restless, worried, overstimulated, or unable to relax. You may feel exhausted but still mentally alert or emotionally on edge.

Depression fatigue may feel more like heaviness, low motivation, emotional numbness, sadness, isolation, or difficulty starting tasks.

Some people experience both anxiety and depression at the same time. If your tiredness is connected to low mood, hopelessness, loss of interest, or feeling emotionally disconnected, depression therapy may also be helpful.

Signs Anxiety May Be Affecting Your Energy

Anxiety may be contributing to fatigue if you notice patterns such as:

You feel tired after worrying for long periods
You sleep but still wake up tense
You feel drained after social interactions
Your body feels tight or restless most days
You avoid tasks because they feel overwhelming
Your mind races when you try to rest
You rely on caffeine to push through anxiety-related exhaustion
You feel emotionally depleted after conflict or uncertainty
You are tired, but relaxing feels uncomfortable

These patterns do not mean something is wrong with you. They may be signs that your mind and body have been working too hard for too long.

How Therapy Can Help with Anxiety Fatigue

Therapy cannot instantly remove stress from your life, but it can help you understand and respond to anxiety differently.

In anxiety therapy, you may work on:

Identifying anxiety triggers
Understanding worry patterns
Learning how anxiety affects your body
Reducing avoidance
Building coping strategies
Improving emotional regulation
Practicing boundaries
Exploring perfectionism or people-pleasing
Addressing stress, trauma, or relationship patterns
Creating healthier rest and recovery habits

For some clients, anxiety is connected to past experiences or emotional triggers. In those cases, trauma therapy or EMDR therapy may be considered when clinically appropriate.

Small Steps That May Support Energy

When anxiety is making you tired, the goal is not to force yourself to “calm down.” A more helpful starting point is often to support your nervous system with small, realistic steps.

You might try:

Taking short breaks before you feel completely depleted
Reducing caffeine if it worsens anxiety
Creating a simple bedtime routine
Writing worries down before sleep
Practicing slow breathing or grounding exercises
Moving your body gently
Limiting late-night scrolling
Talking to someone you trust
Asking for support instead of carrying everything alone

Small changes may not solve everything, but they can help interrupt the cycle of anxiety and exhaustion.

When to Seek Support

Consider speaking with a therapist if anxiety-related tiredness is affecting your work, school, relationships, sleep, concentration, or daily routines.

You do not need to wait until anxiety feels unbearable. Therapy can offer a supportive space to understand what is happening, build coping tools, and work toward feeling more grounded.

Resilient Mind Psychotherapy offers in-person therapy in Brooklyn and online therapy across New York when clinically appropriate.

Contact Resilient Mind Psychotherapy to learn more or schedule a consultation.

Gentle Mental Health Disclaimer

This article is for informational purposes only and is not a diagnosis or a substitute for medical or mental health care. If you are experiencing severe fatigue, chest pain, shortness of breath, fainting, sudden changes in health, or thoughts of self-harm, seek immediate medical or emergency support.

References

The National Institute of Mental Health lists fatigue, trouble concentrating, irritability, muscle tension, and sleep problems among symptoms that may accompany generalized anxiety disorder. National Institute of Mental Health

The American Psychological Association notes that stress and anxiety can share symptoms such as insomnia, difficulty concentrating, fatigue, muscle tension, and irritability. American Psychological Association

Mayo Clinic notes that anxiety symptoms can include difficulty controlling worry, trouble sleeping, and trouble concentrating. mayoclinic.org

Can Anxiety Make You Tired? Understanding Anxiety Fatigue