Even if you've never heard of an "anxiety cave" before, you might already know what it looks like. Allow us to set the scene: you're heading out for a dinner date with your significant other, when they suddenly text you about a change in plans. Their parents came for a surprise visit, and you're about to meet them for the very first time.
You freeze up. The thought of their parents staring at you, grilling you with questions, and putting you on the spot leaves your heart racing. You retreat to your bedroom and make up and excuse to tell your significant other you can't make it.
This is an example of retreating into an anxiety cave. An anxiety cave is a place you go during a period of heightened anxiety. The downside? It's easy to get stuck.
Therapist Anna Papaioannou describes the act of retreating into an anxiety cave as "[a] period of disappearing or falling off the face of the earth." Any place could serve as an anxiety cave, whether it's a person's room, or just somewhere that feels comforting and familiar. For some people, anxiety caves offer protection from overwhelming external stimuli, while others seek refuge from the unknown or uncontrollable.
No matter what the specific motivation, anxiety caves are incredibly isolating, and Papaioannou notes that they only provide a false sense of safety. If you've ever been stuck in an anxiety cave before, here's what to know about working your way out. is an integrative somatic trauma therapist and licensed ACA counselor who spe.