Maybe what you are really referring to is being trapped in your own thinking. Those of us with anxiety tend to think too much instead of using the brain as a tool, to be used when needed and put at rest when not needed. We also tend to think wrongly - dwelling on things over which we have no control both past and future, berate ourselves ... all of this excess, negative thinking is really a form of self-abuse.

Spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle gives great explanations of this in his work - he has a website with free contect if you choose to look into it. www.EckhartTolle.com.