I’m Freaking Out!

I’m Freaking Out!

Anxiety is a many-splendored thing. Sometimes it comes as a tidal wave, smashing into us all at once, while other times it creeps up quietly, like an invasive vine slowly choking out a tree. Some people feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of thoughts tumbling through their heads, while others find themselves stonewalled by utter blankness. Some sleep too much, others too little; some lose their appetite while others binge. We might have a clear idea of what triggered the anxiety while other times it seems to come out of nowhere. No matter how or why it appears, it’s certainly uncomfortable and can leave us feeling powerless, confused, and overwhelmed.

I like to think of anxiety as a completely natural, evolutionary process gone awry. Most of the symptoms we associate with anxiety—increased heart rate and blood pressure, shallow breathing, increased stress hormones in the blood stream, racing thoughts—are natural fear responses when we’re faced with a dangerous situation. For example, if I stumble upon a hungry tiger in the wild, I’m going to need that extra boost of energy and blood pressure in order to either fight for my life or run like heck.

But what if I have the same feelings with no tiger in sight?

The irony of anxiety is that it often sabotages our ability to deal with a situation rather than aiding us. When we go to give that big presentation at work or finally build up the courage to ask someone out on a date, racing thoughts, dry mouth and indigestion are the last things we need to make a positive impression! The funny (not funny) thing about anxiety is that, unlike fear, it’s a response to a perceived danger rather than an actual, present danger. Feeling terror when a tiger comes charging at me in the wild is totally reasonable and adaptive; having that same feeling about going to the grocery store is not.

So what can we do?

Anxiety is a phenomenon that affects both the body and mind, so we need to make sure we’re taking care of both. A healthy lifestyle can go a long way toward knocking down anxiety, so check to see how many of these things you’re already doing:

If even checking off all the lifestyle boxes doesn’t do the trick, it might be time to think therapy.

There are many ways counseling can help manage anxiety so that it serves rather than sabotages us, including getting to the root of the problem, changing the way we think, and learning practical coping skills to reduce symptoms. I tend to use a combination of approaches in therapy, tailored to the needs of each individual. Click here to find out more about my approach in How I Do Therapy.

It bears mentioning that some degree of anxiety will likely always be a part of life, and is actually be beneficial in the right dosage. When I was preparing to take my clinical social work exam, it was important for me to have a little bit of anxiety because it motivated me to study. Too little anxiety, and I might have gotten complacent and not passed, while too much anxiety might have made it difficult to concentrate and learn the information I needed to learn (not to mention making taking the actual test a nightmare). So rather than thinking of anxiety as some terrible, useless thing that’s only there to make us miserable, we can also think about how the right kind of anxiety can serve us well.

If high anxiety or worry are affecting your performance at work, making it difficult to take care of yourself and family, or draining the fun out of doing the things you enjoy, it might be time to check out what therapy can do for you. I love working with anxiety, so hit me up to schedule a first appointment or free, 20-minute consultation.