Managing Anxiety and Physical Tension: The Role of Psychotherapy and Physiotherapy

By Yana Shenker, LCSW-R
Founder, Resilient Mind Psychotherapy – Brooklyn, NY

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Anxiety is more than just a mental experience—it has deep and lasting effects on the body. From chronic muscle tension and shallow breathing to jaw clenching and digestive discomfort, anxiety often shows up physically before we’re even aware of the emotional toll it’s taking.

At Resilient Mind Psychotherapy in Brooklyn, NY, we often work with clients who are navigating both the emotional and physical symptoms of anxiety. While psychotherapy offers a safe space to understand and manage stress, physiotherapy can help restore physical balance. Together, these two approaches form a powerful combination for long-term wellness.

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The Mind-Body Loop: How Anxiety Becomes Physical

When you’re under constant stress or dealing with anxiety, your nervous system goes into a prolonged state of fight-or-flight. This triggers the release of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, which can cause:

• Muscle tightness (especially in the neck, shoulders, and jaw)

• Rapid or shallow breathing

• Stomach discomfort

• Headaches or migraines

• Chest tension or pressure

Over time, this physical response becomes automatic—even when there’s no immediate threat. That’s why you might feel on edge physically even when your thoughts seem calm.

To break this cycle, you need to care for both the mind and the body.

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How Psychotherapy Helps Ease Physical Anxiety Symptoms

At Resilient Mind Psychotherapy, we offer personalized online therapy sessions for individuals across New York, including those dealing with:

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

• Panic attacks

• Social anxiety

• Health anxiety

• Work-related stress

• Somatic (body-based) anxiety

Techniques we use include:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Helps identify and reframe negative thought loops.

• Mindfulness-Based Therapy: Teaches clients to tune into their body in the present moment.

• Somatic Therapy: Focuses on awareness of physical sensations to help regulate emotions.

These evidence-based approaches help reduce the physical reactivity that anxiety brings—and empower you to calm your body through your mind.

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The Role of Physiotherapy in Managing Anxiety Symptoms

Physical tension caused by anxiety doesn’t always go away with talk therapy alone. That’s where physiotherapy comes in. A skilled physical therapist can help relieve muscle tightness, improve breathing patterns, and correct posture—all of which can reduce overall stress levels.

For example, Gramercy Physical Therapy in Manhattan, NY often works with patients experiencing:

• Jaw and neck tightness from clenching

• Poor posture from sitting in a guarded or hunched position

• Shallow breathing patterns caused by anxiety

• Tension headaches and shoulder stiffness

• Dizziness or body fatigue related to chronic stress

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A Real-Life Scenario: Healing Both Mind and Body

Let’s say you’ve been waking up every morning with tight shoulders and an anxious feeling in your chest. You stretch, you go for a walk, maybe you’ve even tried massage. But the tension keeps coming back.

You begin therapy and realize you’ve been holding unprocessed stress from work and family life. As your therapist helps you uncover patterns and regulate your emotions, you also start physiotherapy to relieve neck tension and correct your breathing mechanics.

Within weeks, your sleep improves, your body feels lighter, and your emotional outlook is clearer. This is the power of combining psychotherapy and physiotherapy.

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Should You Consider Both Therapies?

You might benefit from an integrated approach if:

• You experience physical symptoms like tightness, dizziness, or fatigue with anxiety

• You’ve tried talk therapy but still feel physically stressed

• You struggle with posture or tension that doesn’t respond to traditional treatments

• Panic attacks include chest pressure, tingling, or breathlessness

• You’re recovering from injury and also feeling overwhelmed emotionally

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Your Next Steps: Where to Begin in New York

If you’re in the NYC area and want a whole-person approach to anxiety management, here’s how to get started:

1. Book a confidential therapy session with a licensed professional at Resilient Mind Psychotherapy. We offer secure online therapy for individuals located in New York, including Brooklyn, Manhattan, and surrounding boroughs.

2. Visit a trusted physical therapist such as Gramercy PT clinic in Manhattan to address physical symptoms related to stress and anxiety.

3. Combine and coordinate your care. When mental health professionals and physiotherapists align, patients tend to experience faster and longer-lasting relief.

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Final Thoughts

Anxiety doesn’t exist only in your head—it impacts your entire being. That’s why the most effective treatment often involves more than one approach.

By combining psychotherapy with physiotherapy, you can reduce both the emotional and physical symptoms of anxiety—leading to deeper, more sustainable healing.

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✍️ About the Author

Yana Shenker, LCSW-R is the founder and clinical director of Resilient Mind Psychotherapy in Brooklyn, NY. With over 15 years of experience evidence-based therapy—both online and in-person.