Anxiety - A Human Condition

"No amount of anxiety makes any difference to anything that's going to happen."-  Alan Watts⠀

Understanding Anxiety

Inherited from our evolutionary past and deeply embedded in our nervous system, anxiety is a normal part of the human condition and can be traced back as far as 720 BC. Historically, this primitive survival response protected our ancestors from wild predators and tribal conflict; however, in modern-day society, the threats that our ancestors faced have largely disappeared, and the triggers changed. The perceived threats that cause modern-day anxiety can come from something as simple as how others view us or thoughts about whether we are good enough, and while it might be tempting to try and run from anxiety in an attempt to eliminate it, this only makes things worse. 

People often tend to naturally avoid unpleasant and negative experiences that cause stress and anxiety because it is hard-wired in us; however, avoiding our anxieties tends to worsen it over time and is counterproductive. Avoidance coping is considered an unhealthy or maladaptive mechanism because it often exacerbates stress without helping a person deal with the things that are causing the stress. 

Take, for example, if you are trying to avoid a difficult conversation that you need to have with a co-worker. You make attempts to avoid having this conversation by proactively staying away from them and ignoring their emails. While this might seem like you are steering clear of conflict, eventually, you will need to address your co-worker, as you cannot avoid them forever. Avoiding early conversations that are necessary to address the issue can snowball into greater levels of anxiety and stress. Confronting a problem or dealing with a stressor is the only way to effectively reduce the stress it causes.

Getting Comfortable With The Uncomfortable

Learning to tolerate uncomfortable feelings is one way to build mental resilience and gain confidence when facing stressful or anxious situations. However, it is important to note that embracing discomfort doesn't come easily for everyone, but is necessary to build your confidence, challenge your fears, and help you grow.

Another way to build resilience is by mentally preparing yourself for life's setbacks. The ancient Greek Stoic philosophers have used this technique for thousands of years, and it is one of the techniques featured in the Worry Successfully Journal. For the Stoics, it was understood that if something has to happen, it will happen, but if we are mentally prepared, we can mitigate the psychological impact. In therapy, this technique is used to reduce and overcome feelings of fear about an event or experience in preparation for the potential real-life scenario.

The Takeaway

All humans will experience stress and anxiety at some point in their lifetime. It is a normal and helpful human condition that can alert us to danger and prepare us to act. Real or imaginary threats of danger affect us in the same way, so being able to discern and tell the difference between the two is essential for us to respond appropriately. Avoiding our problems only leads to more stress and anxiety, which, in the long run, can cause physical health problems. 

Finally, it is essential to remember that life is not without its difficulties, and, at some point, we all face instances that will challenge us; the good news is that there are strategies to help manage and overcome them.