What is Anxiety?

Have you ever had that feeling of dread in your stomach, but have no idea why? Have you felt uneasy but can’t understand why? Anxiety doesn’t ask for permission  to be a companion, they just push in, like the unwanted visitor they are. 

I describe anxiety as a monster, who survives because we feed him.  For example, if your anxiety is related to your health, you do not just have a cold anxiety makes you believe that it could be pneumonia.  This is how the monster gets fed.  The worse case scenario is a Las Vegas buffet for the anxiety monster.

So, does this mean if we starve him, we will no longer have anxiety? Well, it means that by not feeding into the anxious thoughts, you are no longer allowing them to grow larger. With practice, you can reduce the thoughts or actions that do feed your anxiety.  For example, if you have a health anxiety, googling your symptoms is not your friend, although that action is great for the anxiety monster.

So, by monitoring your thoughts, you can learn what your triggers are and how to avoid them.

What you can expect from starving the monster:

• 1. Decreased Power Over Time

  When you resist anxiety and avoid feeding it, over time it tends to lose its grip. Anxiety often thrives on worry and avoidance, so when you face situations without letting the monster grow, its power starts to diminish.

• 2. Building Resilience

  By not giving in to anxiety, you build resilience. You start to realize that anxiety doesn't control you, and you can face uncomfortable situations without the worst-case scenarios coming true. This helps reduce fear of the anxiety itself.

• 3. Increased Confidence

  Every time you resist feeding the anxiety monster, you prove to yourself that you can handle distressing emotions without being overwhelmed. This builds your confidence in managing anxiety in the future.

• 4. Break the Cycle

  Anxiety can create a cycle—worrying about something causes anxiety, which leads to avoiding it, which then strengthens the belief that you can't handle it. By "starving" it, you break that cycle and start to approach challenges head-on instead of avoiding them.

It takes practice, however seeing a therapist and learning strategies and coping techniques can help. Over time, you can regain control over your emotions and thoughts.  Remember to always be kind to yourself. We are all a work in progress.