Calgary Anxiety Therapy: Limiting Beliefs & the Hidden Rules That Fuel Anxiety

Life in Calgary moves quickly. Between demanding careers, economic ups and downs, and the long winters that can leave people feeling isolated, anxiety is a common struggle. Many Calgarians describe their anxiety as something “hardwired” — as though it’s built into their personality. But the truth is often different. At ShiftGrit, we’ve seen that what feels like permanent anxiety usually stems from Limiting Beliefs formed years ago. These aren’t just negative thoughts you can “think away.” They’re identity-level convictions that act like hidden rules, quietly shaping how your brain and body respond to stress. What Are Limiting Beliefs? Limiting Beliefs go beyond surface thoughts like “I’m not good at math.” They sound more like: I Am Unsafe I Am Not in Control I Am a Failure I Am Alone Bad Things Are Going to Happen Once formed, they function as filters. Every new situation is interpreted through them, whether or not it truly applies. How Do They Form? Most Limi...