Anxiety is not like a car engine. You can’t simply stop and start anxiety at the push of a button. Anxiety has a habit of starting of its own free will and stopping whenever it feels like it. Why is that? And what can you do about it?
Is Anxiety Natural?
Moments or brief periods of anxiety are quite natural and a normal part of our survival mechanism. If you get hit in the face by a football when walking in the park, then the next time you walk past a football game in the park, you will feel a little bit of anxiety. This anxiety will focus your attention on the game as you pass, so you are better able to dodge if another football heads in your direction.
Anxiety helps you focus your attention on potential dangers, and therefore helps you to avoid it. This is the natural way anxiety works.
Is Daily Anxiety Normal?
No, it is not! A bit of anxiety when there is potential danger around is quite normal. But for most people this should only pop into their lives on odd occasions. If you feel the anxiety coming over when there is no danger around, then this is a sign that your brain is over-reacting and I would suggest that you do something about it.
Some of my clients have anxiety the minute they wake up in the morning, others have anxiety that is triggered by certain places or people, or maybe when in crowds or sometimes for no apparent reason at all. My clients have recognised that that is a problem and have decided to do something about it.
Why Does Anxiety Come When There is No Danger Around?
Anxiety is triggered by the fight-or-flight centre of the brain that is over-stimulated by a lot of stress. This could be big stressful event that have happened in the past, or leading a stressful life, or, indeed, because of excessive worry about the future. Too much stress fills up the (metaphorical) “stress bucket”, which triggers anxiety when it’s too full.
Why Does Anxiety Disappear for No Apparent Reason?
It may be that someone gets distracted by something, or relaxes a little bit. In response, the fight-or-flight centre of the brain decides that there is no longer any danger around and either stops or dials down the anxiety.
Why Do Some People Have Daily Anxiety?
If you cut your finger, your skin doesn’t not work properly and it bleeds. If you catch a cold, breathing through your nose doesn’t work properly, as it produces a lot of mucus. If your fight-or-flight centre gets the idea that you are in danger, you get anxiety.
It’s as simple as that. If the fight-or-flight centre is not operating properly, then anxiety can occur at any point – possibly every day. Just like any other problem with your body, something has gone wrong and it needs sorting out.
How Can You Fix Anxiety?
Just like a small cut to your finger or a mild cold, if it is minor anxiety that you can cope with then you can apply a few home remedies or just leave it to sort itself out.
However, if you broke your arm, or had a serious gastric bug, you would want to seek out a doctor. Likewise, if the anxiety is stopping you lead the sort of life you want to lead, you might want to get help fixing it – either through medication prescribed by a doctor or through therapy.
And Finally …
Hypnotherapy is a very effective means of dealing with anxiety. I specialise in helping clients who are only just coping with anxiety to get them back in control of their lives. I work from my clinic in Fleet, Hampshire as well as working online. If you want a chat – call me or fill in the contact form on my website.
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