Anxiety is a feeling that comes through both physically and emotionally. We feel it as an ache in our stomachs, a change in how we hold ourselves, perhaps our shoulders slump or our head drops. It can also affect our energy, leaving some of us feeling frantic and restless, while others slow down and withdraw.
What is the role of anxiety?
Its role is to alert us to risk and danger so that we can take action towards safety. It’s more about prediction and anticipation than fear, which is more immediate and often relates to a clearer sense of danger. That’s often why anxiety and worry are so prominent for us in everyday life.
As we experience life, our nervous system gathers information and uses that to alert us as we go through our day. Sometimes that anxiety is warranted; it’s a sense that something could go wrong. Other times it’s misplaced.
Anxiety in everyday life
If we take the workplace as an example, anyone who’s worked for a difficult boss likely feels anxious when meeting with them. That can also happen with a great boss, if past experiences have taught you to expect the worst. A lot of it comes down to what you’ve personally experienced and witnessed. Maybe your current boss is critical, perhaps a previous boss micromanaged you, or you’ve been made redundant in the past. All your challenging and traumatic experiences come together to warn you of danger.
Personal relationships can be a hotbed for anxiety. If your past has shown you that people leave, betray or are untrustworthy to the point that it’s hurt you, it’s understandable that your nervous system would be triggered. Even if your partner, friend or family member hasn’t themselves done anything to hurt you in the past.
So anxiety isn’t inherently a problem. It’s a protective mechanism that can become overactive, particularly following difficult or traumatic experiences.
Therefore, when we feel anxious, it’s helpful to remember it’s doing its job. The difficult thing is, anxiety can be misplaced and it can cause unnecessary discomfort. There are ways to stop feeling anxious, so if you experience it in ways that aren’t helpful, it is a worthwhile effort to at least take the edge off it.