If you’re struggling with overwhelming stress, intrusive memories, or a constant state of alertness, you’re not alone.

Anxiety is one of the most common and persistent symptoms of PTSD, affecting mental and physical well-being. It can disrupt sleep, relationships, and daily life, making even simple tasks feel overwhelming. Understanding the connection between PTSD and anxiety is the first step toward healing.

In this article, we’ll explore how trauma leads to anxiety, the symptoms to look out for, and why seeking professional help is crucial.

We’ll also introduce Sophrology, a mind-body practice that can serve as a supportive tool alongside medical treatment, helping you regain balance, ease anxiety, and move toward recovery.

PTSD develops after a person experiences or witnesses a traumatic event, such as an accident, assault, natural disaster, or military combat. While the immediate fear may fade, the nervous system often remains stuck in fight, flight, or freeze mode, leading to chronic anxiety and emotional distress.

1. The brain’s alarm system gets stuck
   The amygdala, the brain’s fear centre, becomes hyperactive after trauma, triggering an intense stress response, even in non-threatening situations.
2. The nervous system remains on high alert
   PTSD keeps the sympathetic nervous system activated, leading to heightened anxiety, rapid heartbeat, and difficulty relaxing.
3. Cortisol and adrenaline stay elevated
   These stress hormones, meant to help in moments of danger, remain chronically high, contributing to feelings of panic, restlessness, and emotional exhaustion.
4. The mind struggles to differentiate past from present
   Flashbacks and intrusive memories trick the brain into reliving the trauma, making everyday situations feel unsafe.

Anxiety from PTSD doesn’t always look the same for everyone. Some people experience constant worry, while others battle panic attacks, emotional numbness, or mood swings.

• Persistent fear, dread, or worry about safety and the future
• Feeling on edge, easily startled, or hyperaware of surroundings
• Mood swings, irritability, anger, or frustration
• Emotional numbness or detachment from loved ones

• Racing heart, sweating, dizziness, or nausea
• Muscle tension, headaches, or chronic body aches
• Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep
• Nightmares or repeated flashbacks of the trauma

• Avoiding people, places, or situations linked to the trauma
• Social withdrawal or feeling disconnected from others
• Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
• Over-reliance on alcohol, drugs, or unhealthy coping mechanisms

If these symptoms are disrupting your life, it’s important to seek professional help. PTSD is treatable, and you don’t have to navigate it alone.

The first step in managing PTSD and anxiety is to visit a doctor or mental health professional. There are proven therapies and treatments that can help you regain control.

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): Helps reframe negative thoughts and manage anxiety triggers.
• Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR): A therapy that helps reprocess traumatic memories in a less distressing way.
• Medication: In some cases, antidepressants or anti-anxiety medication can be helpful in stabilising symptoms.

Alongside professional treatment, complementary approaches like Sophrology can provide additional tools to manage anxiety, regulate emotions, and reconnect with your body.

Sophrology is a structured mind-body practice that combines breathing techniques, relaxation, movement, and visualisation to help calm the nervous system and build emotional resilience.

Unlike traditional meditation, Sophrology is dynamic – incorporating movement and breathwork, making it especially beneficial for individuals with PTSD who struggle with stillness.

1. Regulates the nervous system
   Shifts the body from high alert to deep calm by activating the parasympathetic nervous system.
2. Reframes trauma responses
   Guided visualisation exercises help change the brain’s reaction to past trauma, reducing triggers.
3. Reduces panic attacks and anxiety
   Structured breathing techniques lower cortisol levels, easing stress and emotional overwhelm.
4. Supports better sleep
   Relaxation practices improve sleep quality, reducing nightmares and insomnia.
5. Restores a sense of safety
   Sophrology helps rebuild trust in your body and mind, making daily life feel more manageable.

A trained Sophrologist provides guided practice, either in person or through an app, lasting 10 to 45 minutes. Sessions involve:

• Breathing exercises to reduce stress and panic.
• Gentle movements to release built-up tension.
• Guided visualisation to shift the brain’s response to trauma.
• Progressive relaxation to calm the nervous system.

Over time, these techniques rewire the brain’s stress response, helping you regain a sense of safety and control.

PTSD and anxiety may feel overwhelming, but with the right tools and support, recovery is possible. Whether through professional therapy, medication, or complementary approaches like Sophrology, you can regain balance and emotional well-being.

If you’re ready to start your healing journey, consider:

• Booking a 1:1 session – with a trained Sophrologist for a personalised practice.
• Subscribe to the BeSophro App – for guided sessions to begin practicing regularly.