Anxiety

Anxiety is a much misunderstood emotion. Many people dread it and would rather not experience it at all. And yet, it is a very normal reaction to any kind of change that we anticipate in our lives.


What is anxiety? It is both a physical and psychological event that is felt by the body and experienced in the way of thoughts, feelings and behaviors. It is an unpleasant sensation that is often accompanied by a foreboding feeling, apprehension, fear, and worry. Unlike fear, however, anxiety is felt in anticipation of something that is just about to happen, rather than something that one is currently confronting. In anxiety, what is feared is an outcome or an eventuality rather than the actual occurrence.

What is the purpose of anxiety? Although not desired, it actually helps people become more vigilant of the environment and to see what can be done to improve one’s situation. It is a protective mechanism that all of us have!

I wonder if you have ever used your anxiety to make yourself act on something fast. I know I do that to myself every so often. It is a good and effective way to get myself to do something I have been dragging my feet to do. This is when anxiety can be rather useful. It gives us the motivation and energy to do what we feel we need to do.

So, when does anxiety become a problem? Simply put, anxiety becomes a problem when it gets out of control. It becomes a problem when our anxiety interferes with our daily functioning longer than it is effective. For instance, our anxiety can cause us to lose both our sleep and our appetite. This can have repercussions on both our physical and mental wellbeing over time when it is not addressed properly.

So, what can help? There are many interventions for anxiety. Simple breathing exercises, as I have written about in an earlier post in this blog often give some relief. The same goes for other relaxation exercises. Of course, consulting a mental health professional, such as, a psychologist or psychiatrist can also prove to be helpful.