Anxiety is a tricky mistress. It feels like the world is ending and you are about to die at any moment. There’s a reason for this. Our minds put us in a fight or flight mode when we are about to literally die. It releases adrenaline or epinephrine to prepare our bodies to run or fight until there is nothing left to do so, even beyond what we believe to be our physical capacity. Anxiety is this chemical when our body is sitting still in more of a freeze or fawn response.
Freeze and fawn are the lesser known danger responses. Unlike fight or flight, these are responses when escape might not be possible, but the body has already released the chemicals for us to survive. We need to buy time for the right chance to escape or fight. It feels terrible when your body is filled with the go chemical and the brakes are on.
Anxiety is not likely going to kill anyone. It is the chemical telling us we are in danger of dying, but it does not kills us (short of underlying conditions). It is actually meant to make us feel alive. Anxiety starts from the trigger, builds, and changes through its cycle. This cycle is slightly different for each person. It might begin as a warm sensation in the body, before you start to feel your pulse in your ears or somewhere else. It can then start to increase your breathing and make you feel out of breath. Your mind might even be shouting for you to run!
These are examples of the process of anxiety. I often compare it to the launch of a roller coaster. When you get in the seats and the bar clicks in, you are likely in for the ride. Sometimes a person can get released at this point. However when that coaster is released and hits the chain of that first hill, we know we are going to have to finish this ride. That is essentially the trick to anxiety. We must accept and be willing to finish the ride. It is a natural process outside of our control. The only control we have is to prolong it.
Prepare for the anxiety ride and accept that it is happening. Acceptance is the key to not experiencing it more in the future. This is counter to what most people do. Most people attempt to avoid the anxiety. This only rewards the anxiety and reinforces our fear of it. Avoidance is the worst thing we can do with anxiety. Anxiety arose out of something that is already happening or has happened. There is nothing left here except for acceptance.
Mindfulness is a strong tool for managing anxiety. This study explored the use of MBSR (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction) as compared to Escitalopram in the treatment of anxiety. It found that mindfulness has a similar ability in reducing anxiety as this psychopharmaceutical. Our minds are powerful tools and capable of healing us. Countering anxiety is simply allowing our brain to do the work it needs to survive. We can remind it when the situation might not be so dire and reassure it that we are safe.
If you have read this far, reach out and find some support to challenge the accuracy of this anxiety.