Let’s talk anxiety. What is it, how does it control our brain, and how can we even attempt to start dealing with it. Just in case someone doesn’t really understand exactly what anxiety is I just want to go through a brief overview.
Anxiety is the feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease about something with an uncertain outcome. The feeling of anxiety can come in waves that last for several minutes to a few hours or longer. The physical symptoms can be: feeling nervous, tense or fearful, restlessness, rapid heart rate, sweating, shaking, fatigue, panic attack, weakness, dizziness, sleep problems, nausea, digestive issues, and chest pain. These are not all the symptoms but I didn’t want to go too heavily into it. Anxiety can come up during certain situations like public events or work meetings or during moments when you least expect it. You can be relaxing on the beach and all of a sudden an intense feeling of nervousness and fear can come upon you and you have no idea why. 9 out of 10 times it’s called anxiety.
In terms of what anxiety does to the brain there is a lot of research however, it can vary from one source to another. Also some people truly believe there is no physical response when it comes to anxiety, it’s all just what we allow ourselves to feel rather than actual scientific proof (I’m not one of those people, I believe the research).
Using brain imaging technology scientists have been able to see that the amygdala and hippocampus play a significant role in anxiety. These two parts of the brain trigger that there is a threat and trigger a fear or anxious response, even when there may be no actual threat around.
When you’re having an anxious episode it can feel like there is no way out. At times you feel that your brain is spinning out of control and you have no way to stop it. Then the physical side symptoms start to brew and it’s all downhill from there. However, there is good news. With the right kind of therapy, meditation, diet, and techniques you may not be able to completely eliminate anxiety from your life, but you can control it. I don’t think there is a magic switch and you just don’t have it anymore, anxiety is something you will have to deal with probably forever. But if you know how to handle it, the first moment you feel it coming on, you can train your body and mind to get rid of it immediately. This is what I have seen therapy do for me. Now when I have moments of intense anxiety that would last at times for hours, can be fully controlled and handled within 10 to 15 minutes using techniques that I learned from therapy.
I wouldn’t have been able to get the handle that I now have over my anxiety without therapy. I am aware that some people don’t want to go to therapy, or have gone and it hasn’t worked. That doesn’t mean there are no other ways to deal with it. I use meditation and journaling to control bouts of anxiety as well and it has worked wonders for me. Even diet plays a HUGE role. I notice if I indulge too much on sugar within a few hours I can start to feel anxious and agitated. It all depends on the individual and works best for them.
Please in the comments below tell me what works best for you. I would really love to know!
Photo Credit: pexels.com