The Psychology of Anxiety

 

Dealing with the intense experience of anxiety is one of the most challenging aspects of human psychology. The perception that danger is coming and the urge to protect ourselves is as intense as it gets. Developing knowledge and abilities in order to effectively manage the experience of anxiety, brings tremendous relief and self-confidence.

 

In order to achieve this, a person must understand that the occurrence of anxiety is a natural reflex in our bodies. When the experience of anxiety is misunderstood and mismanaged, "bad habits" are developed that actually make the experience of anxiety even more intense and difficult to manage. By learning a healthy way to manage the experience of anxiety, an individual can break their bad habits and develop a new and healthy response. 

 

When anxiety is reflexively triggered into consciousness:

 

• The body is prepared to protect itself from physical danger (even if there isn't any actual danger present). Changes in heartrate, blood pressure, body temperature, muscle tension, digestion and breathing occurs. This can be experienced as heart pounding, feeling hot, sweating, tension, stomachache, chest tightness and tingling in the extremities.

 

 

• The mind is bombarded with thoughts urging the self to avoid the "worst case scenario" and ensure the bad thing doesn’t happen. This can be experienced as racing and relentless thoughts, difficulty with concentration and focus and sleep interruption.

 

 

To enact Psychological Health, one must train to face our intense fear responses with confidence that we can handle the body and mind's reflexive responses AND that we can handle the actual situation. 

 

The process challenges an individual to face their biggest fears and develop a sense of strength and self-confidence.

 

The training involved to peacefully navigate anxiety is extremely challenging, stretching one beyond their current expectations and .

 

Psychological challenges with anxiety can manifest as:

• Generalized Anxiety

• Social Anxiety

• Panic

• Phobias

• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

• Substance Use/Dependence