Anxiety can be understood as a self-created experience of fear that is derived from focusing on unwanted future events. At its worst, anxiety can be paralyzing. It takes away our spontaneity for joy and the energy for fulfilling our dreams. We can focus on the negativity of a situation which drives us further into unpleasant bodily sensations and catastrophic thinking.
The cause for our anxiety may be apparent, from an increasing unachievable workload or an imminent critical presentation. Sometimes the reason for these unpleasant feelings are harder to understand. Anxiety is there to keep us safe but when we wish to grow and develop, our subconscious mind may perceive this as a threat to our survival. It is very normal to experience anxiety from time to time as we exceed our self-proposed comfort zones although to remain in this physiological state for long periods of time will be damaging to our physical and psychological well being.
You may worry about things and find yourself fearing the worst in a situation, this will make you risk averse and more considered when making decisions.
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Review your expectations in the situation. Are you asking too much from yourself? Can you share the responsibility with others? Anxiety can come from having an unachievable standard of perfectionism, realising what is realistic within the time and communicating with others to get support. When there is no option to change the external situation, speak with a mental health-care professional to change the way you are perceiving the source of your anxiety.
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You may have concerns but also feel excitement about new situations. You have an understanding and a curiosity about new challenges that encourages you to fulfill your potential regardless of sometimes feeling fear.
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Moving through life relatively smoothly without being incapacitated with fear is a wonderful place to be. Make sure you are experiencing all of your feelings negative and positive. Suppressing unwanted feelings will numb everything, so be curious about all feelings because eventually they will want to be released.
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You do not worry about things and rarely experience anxiety. You don’t experience stress and generally stay out of stressful situations.
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Try to take an overview of your life and establish what you want to achieve in 6 months, 1 year, 5 years etc. At the end of your life will you have achieved the life that you could be proud of. Experiencing little to no anxiety periodically may be an indicator that you are not growing in life.
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Written by:
Simone Smith, Psychotherapist
Ba Hons Dip Couns NCS registered