What is Anxiety

Anxiety is a natural response to stressful events, which we physically see, hear, feel, smell, or even imagine. It is entirely normal. It is part of our make-up. Anxiety is supposed to be helpful – it is part of our fight or flight mechanism to keep us alive.

Anxiety becomes problematic when it is disproportionate to the stressful event, continues after the event has diminished, or occurs when there is no stressful event evident at all – This can affect our ability to learn and manage situations in a logical and calm way. A wolf won’t leap out of social media to attack us, but the CHEMISTRY for any moment of heightened anxiety caused by fear, nervousness, worry, or in some cases, nothing at all, is the same. 

🞆 rapid heart rate and heart palpitations

🞆 increased blood pressure

🞆 shaking or trembling

🞆 sweating

🞆 tense muscles

🞆 stomach cramps and nausea

🞆 increased breathing or shortness of breath

🞆 loss of appetite

🞆 insomnia

🞆 hard to concentrate

Learning about anxiety is actually an important part of dealing with anxiety and fear responses in the brain. The more we understand about how the brain works, how and why we are feeling the way we do, the greater our ability is to recognise when a fear response is not real and has been created by our brain in fear of what might happen. This can be seen as a false alarm. When we know the alarm setting us off into fight or flight mode is false, then we have begun to take CONTROL. We can begin to make steps towards reducing and eliminating that fear response by taking small steps often, mindfulness, grounding and other techniques.

The bravest are not those who have no fear. Not at all. The bravest are those who are afraid, but nevertheless try a little even if it is scary