Conquering Anxiety
Conquering Anxiety
Daily, we wake up to interact with a constantly changing world that is going at faster speeds. Our relationships, work, family, finances, etc., all play their own demands on us. Some of these situations can be managed easily. Others become a puzzle we need to figure out, mainly if it includes unknown aspects. At the heart of this effort is where anxiety can be triggered.
Why? As the psychologist, Dr. Richard Lazarus, mentions in his book Emotion & Adaptation, “The hallmark of anxiety is ambiguity – of the available information- or uncertainty.” Some people deal with these situations with what he calls “anticipatory coping.” That allows them to obtain more information to take concrete action. This provides a quick relief since life; hence, knowledge is constantly evolving. Long term, understanding the purpose of our emotions can give us a clue on handling anxiety in a healthy manner.
So let’s go back to the meaning of emotions. Primary emotions are associated with aspects related to the survival of the species. Their purpose is to: a) Help us adapt to changes in our environment b) Build emotional connections with others and, c) React in case of danger. (Check out my full article on emotions for more details).
Ambiguity can be associated with an environment that is not safe, activating different responses in our bodies that can affect us physically, mentally, and/or emotionally. Some reactions can include sweaty or shaky hands, increased heartbeat, shallow breaths, constantly worrying, difficulty focusing, irritability, just to name a few.
What can you do? Anxiety can go from mild to severe depending on life experiences and can be triggered – like any emotion – by an actual event, a thought, or a memory. To start figuring out how to manage it, here are two general recommendations that can point you in the right direction:
Recognize the signs
a) Fear and anxiety are not the same – Even though anxiety and fear can have similar bodily reactions, the most significant difference between the two has to do with timing. According to experts in the field, fear is triggered by an actual event, while anxiety is more directed towards the future.
b) Other names for anxiety: One key aspect of understanding ourselves is identifying how we feel at a certain point in time. Knowing when we are feeling anxious and how it can show up in ourselves becomes vital. To support you in that discovery process, keep in mind that there are many terms associated with anxiety, some of which include feelings of unease, concern, apprehension, and worry. If you find yourself experiencing any of these, it is a red flag to look further and identify what is causing it.
Please keep in mind that if you are experiencing severe anxiety, it’s recommended to seek professional help.
Practice Presence
Many things escape our control despite how much we may try to anticipate ourselves. Learning to cope efficiently with ambiguity becomes a skill to master to live more fully.