How Anxiety Gets Out of Control
Unravel the intricate web of anxiety and its escalation. Delve into the psychological mechanisms that fuel this emotional turmoil, and explore how unchecked stressors can spiral into debilitating anxiety. A journey into understanding the complexities of the human mind awaits.
In a culture obsessed with control, feeling peace all the time is not realistic
When we perceive our initial physical sensations of anxiety as a reason for concern, our apprehension triggers adrenaline to release
- Our need to get rid of anxiety increases our symptoms
- Accepting that anxiety is normal and not inherently dangerous could stop it from spiraling out of control
The Desire for Control and Security
The most compelling explanation for this paradox is that our culture is obsessed with control.
- We expect our emotions to be totally even-keeled-we want to feel equanimity and peace and happiness all the time. As a result, we cannot handle the discomfort or perceived danger of feeling anxious and unmoored.
- Our inability to accept a full range of normal human emotion leads our distress to intensify (the second type of anxiety).
The First Type of Anxiety
The first is the initial experience of anxiety
- There is nothing problematic, dangerous, or harmful in any way with having some anxious thoughts, feelings, or sensations
- In fact, the physical sensations associated with this form of anxiety are meant to be unpleasant, in order to keep us alert and aware
The Second Type of Anxiety
Second type of anxiety involves how people respond to the first.
- When we perceive our initial (unpleasant but harmless) physical sensations of anxiety as a reason for concern, our apprehension triggers adrenaline to release into the bloodstream. This causes our anxiety to cascade further, which typically begets more catastrophizing and self-criticism.