Why Do I Feel Anxious Even When I’m Doing Nothing?

Shaniqua Smith
Jan 2
3 min read

Updated: Jan 3

Have you ever sat down to rest, no deadlines, no chaos, no pressure and suddenly your chest feels tight?

Nothing is technically wrong…But your mind won’t settle. Your body feels uneasy. And you can’t explain why.

If that’s you, I want you to know something right away: you’re not broken.

This is something so many of us experience, especially when we’ve lived in survival mode for a long time. And today, I want to gently unpack why anxiety can show up even when life feels quiet.

Anxiety Doesn’t Always Need a Trigger

One of the biggest misconceptions about anxiety is that it always needs a reason.

But for many of us, anxiety isn’t about what’s happening now — it’s about what we’ve carried for years.

If your body has been conditioned to stay alert…If you’ve had to be strong for a long time…If peace was rare or short-lived…

Then stillness can actually feel unsafe.

Your nervous system hasn’t learned how to rest yet — even when you want to.

Why Do I Feel Anxious Even When I’m Doing Nothing?

When Your Body Is Resting, but Your Mind Is Still on Guard

Sometimes anxiety shows up after the storm, not during it.

You finally slow down…You finally sit still…And that’s when everything rises to the surface.

Why?

Because your body is no longer distracted.

This doesn’t mean you’re weak.

It means your system is trying to process what it never had time to feel before.

And for many women of faith, this can be confusing — especially when you’re doing “all the right things.”

Faith and Anxiety Can Exist in the Same Space

Let me say this clearly: Feeling anxious does not mean you lack faith.

You can love God deeply and still feel anxious.

You can trust Him and still feel unsettled.

You can be healed in one area and still be growing in another.

Anxiety doesn’t mean God isn’t present — sometimes it means He’s inviting you to slow down enough to notice what needs care.

Why Do I Feel Anxious Even When I’m Doing Nothing?

The Hidden Root: Always Being “On”

If you’ve spent years:

Overthinking
Anticipating problems
Preparing for disappointment
Carrying emotional responsibility for others

Then your mind learned to stay busy as a form of protection.

So when there’s nothing to do, your system asks:

“What am I supposed to be preparing for right now?”

That tension you feel isn’t random — it’s learned.

And learned patterns can be gently unlearned.

Why Awareness Is the First Step to Healing

One of the most powerful things you can do is notice your anxiety without judging it.

Instead of asking:

“What’s wrong with me?”

Try asking:

“What is my body trying to tell me?”

Awareness creates space.

Space creates safety.

Safety allows healing to begin.

This is where journaling, prayer, and reflection become so important — because they help you slow the noise long enough to listen.

A Gentle Place to Start

If anxiety shows up when you’re doing nothing, try this:

Sit still for one minute
Place your hand on your chest
Take a slow breath in… and release it slowly
Remind yourself: “I am safe in this moment.”

You don’t need to fix everything today.

You don’t need to rush healing.

You just need to stay present.

God meets us there.

Watch the Full Episode

Why Do I Feel Anxious Even When I’m Doing Nothing?

This episode of the OnegirlOnegoal Podcast goes deeper into why anxiety shows up during rest and how to begin calming your mind without forcing yourself to “just relax.”