María José Òrtola, psychologist specializing in anxiety: “Having anxiety does not mean feeling pressure in your chest”

When we think about anxiety, we often associate it only with physical sensations - like chest pain, tightness, or shortness of breath. But anxiety is a much broader, more complex phenomenon that affects both mind and body, and it can show up in very different ways depending on the person.

Psychologist María José Òrtola explained this in an interview on the podcast Seres Normales: “Having anxiety doesn’t just mean my chest hurts or that I sometimes feel overwhelmed. Anxiety is much more than that, and honestly, it’s very painful. The thoughts that come to you, the sensations you experience - they can weigh heavily on a person’s life, even becoming disabling in some aspects.”

She adds: “What I don’t like is when we normalize it. ‘Oh, I have anxiety.’ ‘Okay, cool.’”

An issue that can disrupt day-to-day life

Òrtola reminds us that anxiety is a natural response of the body to situations perceived as threatening or challenging. It’s an internal alert system that prepares us to “fight or flee.” In small doses, this response can be helpful - keeping us focused, helping us make quick decisions, or rise to a challenge. But when anxiety becomes intense, frequent, or out of proportion to the situation, it can turn into a problem that disrupts daily life.

Other symptoms

While many people experience anxiety through physical symptoms - such as heart palpitations, chest tightness, sweating, or trembling - the experience isn’t limited to the body. Other symptoms can be:

• Cognitive: Trouble concentrating, repetitive thoughts, constant worry, irrational fears about specific situations.
• Emotional: Irritability, tension, restlessness, a sense that something bad is about to happen.
• Behavioral: Avoiding situations, procrastination, feeling the need to control everything, or hyperactivity.

Managing anxiety

To help manage anxiety, psychologists recommend focusing on breathing and relaxation techniques - such as deep breathing, meditation, or yoga - to reduce physical and mental tension. They also suggest regular physical activity, psychological therapy, and building a strong social support network with family and friends.

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