Let's get curious about Anxiety

There is a lot out there on Anxiety and this can be overwhelming. Bottom line is, Anxiety is not a life sentence, it is our nervous system's way of helping us ask for help.

What is Anxiety?

It's a physiological (body) response to a hypervigilant state of mind. Our USP as a species, is our ability to anticipate danger, and use our massive brains to keep us safe. This is normal. Anxiety is a ramping up of the normal (hypervigilance). We are scanning for threats, putting our system on constant alert. It is extremely distressing and all consuming.

How does Anxiety serve us?

The all consuming nature of Anxiety creates 'perfect protection' from being present and from feeling our emotions. It keeps us out of the body and pre-occupied with the past and/or future. Feeling an emotion happens in the present- we can only connect to that energy in motion whilst in the present as it flows through us. Anxiety masks emotions that may have been suppressed or unprocessed, it will do this by keeping us stuck in a loop of thoughts and associated behaviours. It can make us want reality and/or other people to change in order to provide relief, it does a great job at taking us away from ourselves.

Does having Anxiety mean I will always be an anxious type of person?

No. As humans we are not designed to live in a state of Anxiety for long periods. Anxiety doesn't have to become part of our personality, it's a message letting us know we need to take time to tend to ourselves. Working through Anxiety is a process, and having dedicated time, space, and someone to work through that process with, is what therapy can offer. Our nervous system is asking for a supportive, safe, nurturing experience that welcomes all the emotions that being in a state of Anxiety has been doing such a great job at protecting us from. The relief comes from finally meeting those emotions and integrating all that is being resisted. That journey can start now, it's always the right time to ask for support.