Why Do We Worry About Things Even When We Know They’re Irrational?

One of the most frustrating parts of anxiety is this: You know the thought doesn’t make sense but your body reacts as if it does.

You might tell yourself, “This is unlikely” or “I’m overthinking.”, but still, the worry won’t let go. That’s because anxiety isn’t driven by logic. It’s driven by perceived safety. and finding a safe space to explore these feelings is the first step toward relief.

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Your Brain Prioritizes Survival Over Accuracy

The brain’s threat system is designed to scan for danger, not to calculate probability. If something could hurt you, your nervous system may respond as though it will.

Uncertainty is especially activating. The anxious brain often treats “I don’t know” as “Something bad is coming.” So, even when a fear is statistically unlikely, the possibility alone can trigger alarm in our nervous system.

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Worry Is a Strategy, Not a Flaw

For many people, especially those with trauma or relational instability in their past, worry becomes a form of protection.

If you’ve learned that:

• Problems appear suddenly;
  
• People are unpredictable;
  
• Mistakes have high consequences;
  
• Safety can disappear;
  

Then your brain may believe that constant mental scanning prevents harm. Worry can create the illusion of control:  “If I think through every scenario, I won’t be blindsided.” It often feels like a therapeutic defense mechanism, even when it’s exhausting.

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You Can’t Out-Logic a Regulated Nervous System

When your body is in a stress response, rational reassurance rarely sticks. Anxiety is physiological before it’s cognitive. This is why telling yourself to “be realistic” doesn’t always calm the spiral.

The real work isn’t proving the thought wrong; it’s establishing emotional support and helping your nervous system feel safer with uncertainty. Through therapy and evidence-based tools like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), you can learn to soothe and regulate the physical alarm.

If you struggle with chronic worry, overthinking, or anxiety that feels disproportionate to the situation, therapy can help you understand why your brain is holding onto these patterns, and how to respond to fear without reinforcing it. Our virtual therapy clinic serves many populations and concerns, from gay men experiencing LGBTQ2IA-related challenges, to trauma, anxiety, neurodivergence, emotion regulation, and self-esteem.

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Remember: You’re not irrational. Your nervous system is trying to protect you, and this unconscious protection mechanism can be retrained.

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