Have you ever felt… Is My Anxiety Natural or is it Chronic?
Have you ever felt anxious and wondered what on earth is causing it? Why am I anxious all the time? This is a question I often hear from clients in the first session. In today’s fast-paced world, anxiety has become increasingly prevalent. Studies show that millions of people experience anxiety, making it one of the most common mental health issues globally.I love working with clients around anxiety because I too experienced intense anxiety in the past. You see…I know firsthand the intense relief of overcoming anxiety.
Let’s start with what is Anxiety?
Firstly, it is important to understand that anxiety is a natural response to stress and danger, often described as a feeling of unease, worry, a knot in your stomach, or fear. It triggers the body’s “fight or flight” response, which is useful in situations where quick action is necessary.
Anxiety often manifests physically before you even realise what’s happening emotionally. By paying attention to the physical signs of anxiety, you can catch it early and identify what triggered it. Common physical symptoms include:
- Increased heart rate
- Sweating
- Shortness of breath
- Muscle tension
- Stomach discomfort
Emotionally, anxiety can present as:
- Irritability
- Restlessness
- Fear or dread
- Racing thoughts
As I was saying… anxiety is a common human emotion that everyone experiences at some point. Whether it’s before a big presentation, during a challenging life transition, or when facing uncertainty, feeling anxious is a normal response to stress.
Anxiety and fear trigger the body’s “fight, flight, freeze or fawn” responses [I will explain these in detail in future blogs], which are useful in situations where quick action is necessary. For example, if you are crossing the road and a car comes out of nowhere, that instantaneous response of flight; which powers your muscles, increases your oxygen supply and sharpens your alertness means you can move out of the way fast and that could be life saving. (Phew! 😮💨)
But what happens if your anxiety after the car incident seems to linger and affect your daily life? This is where it becomes problematic and potentially chronic. It can feel like you’re stuck in a constant state of alertness, even when there’s no immediate threat. This can be mentally, physically and emotionally exhausting and is different from the natural response in the moment like, moving out of the way of a speeding car super fast.
The impact of anxiety can also show up in our lives in patterns like;
➤ Perfectionism,
➤ Procrastination,
➤ Isolating ourselves or
➤Overthinking
To name just a few.
In my youth I ‘masked’ my own anxiety by emotionally eating to soothe my distress and to regulate my emotions. By 20 years old I weighted 280lbs. It was only when I overcame my anxiety that I lost the excess weight permanently and was able to stop self-medicating with food to numb anxious feelings. The impact of coping with anxiety can take such varied forms.
These kinds of patterns are some of the ways we defend against anxiety. They are an attempt to soothe the anxiety and regulate our emotions and nervous system, even if in the long term they just crank up the anxiety higher!🙊
A client once said to me,
“my anxiety feels like it is a runaway train…”
She would overthink trying to control situations and outcomes.
However, by overthinking and imagining the worst case scenario she was trying to protect herself and others or feel safe. However, it left her almost frozen with fear and panic.
What to do:
We can experience anxiety on a scale ranging from mild to totally debilitating.
- Imagine a ladder with 10 runs. 🪜
The bottom of the ladder is mild (E.g. butterflies in your tummy).
The top is severe (hyper vigilant, frozen with fear and unable to function in everyday life).
2. When you notice these signs, pause and reflect on what just happened or what you were thinking about. This can help you connect the physical and emotional symptoms to specific triggers.
Conclusion
Anxiety is complex, and its causes are often hidden beneath the surface. By taking the time to recognise the signs and symptoms of your anxiety you can better understand and manage it. Remember that it’s okay to seek help if you’re struggling. Whether through therapy, lifestyle changes, or medical intervention, there are many ways to address anxiety and improve your quality of life. Recognising the level and nature of your anxiety is the first step.
If you’re feeling anxious, know that you’re not alone, and there is support available.
Free Resources
I have created 2 worksheets for you to take that first step to-
- Identify if your anxiety is natural or if it is chronic.
- How to develop greater awareness using the Anxiety Ladder.
Click Here to access it now!
My aim is that in understanding the anxiety and fear that keeps showing up in your life, you build a greater awareness with which to manage it.
