When Anxiety Takes Over Daily Life
Anxiety isn’t always loud. It can show up as racing thoughts that never stop, constant self-criticism, or a body that never quite relaxes. For many people, anxiety feels like being stuck in “survival mode”—even when life looks fine from the outside.
Traditional coping skills can help temporarily, but when anxiety is deeply rooted in old fears or protective patterns, it needs a deeper kind of healing. That’s where Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy can make a lasting difference.
What Is Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy?
Developed by Dr. Richard Schwartz, IFS therapy is a powerful, evidence-based approach that views the mind as an internal system made up of different “parts.”
These parts often carry specific roles—some manage daily life, others protect against pain, and others hold emotional wounds. Anxiety tends to arise when protective parts work overtime, trying to keep you safe but unintentionally creating exhaustion and overwhelm.
In IFS, you learn to meet these parts with compassion rather than resistance. By doing so, you access your Self—the calm, curious, grounded core that’s never broken, even in the midst of anxiety.
How IFS Helps with Anxiety
- Uncovers the Root Cause
Instead of focusing only on symptoms, IFS helps you understand why your anxiety exists. You might discover an inner part that learned to stay alert after a painful experience, or one that fears failure so much it drives perfectionism. - Reduces Internal Conflict
Anxiety often comes from inner battles—one part wants to rest, another demands control. Through IFS therapy, you help these parts communicate and trust that you can lead from your Self, easing tension and restoring inner balance. - Builds Lasting Self-Compassion
Many people with anxiety judge themselves for “not being able to relax.” IFS helps shift that narrative. When you meet your anxious parts with understanding, shame softens and self-compassion grows—one of the strongest antidotes to chronic anxiety. - Brings Calm to the Nervous System
As parts begin to trust your Self-leadership, the nervous system follows. Clients often notice deeper breaths, less reactivity, and a sense of peace that lasts beyond the therapy session.
Who Can Benefit from IFS Therapy for Anxiety
IFS is helpful for anyone whose anxiety disrupts work, relationships, or daily functioning—especially if you’ve tried other therapies and felt stuck. It’s also effective for people who experience anxiety alongside trauma, panic attacks, people-pleasing, or perfectionism.
IFS in Colorado: Finding Calm from the Inside Out
At Madewell Counseling in Colorado, Janay Oliver uses IFS therapy as a compassionate, trauma-informed approach to anxiety. Sessions focus on helping you reconnect with your inner calm and build trust with the parts of you that have worked so hard to keep you safe.
If anxiety has been running the show, it’s time to meet the parts behind it—and discover the peace that’s been there all along.