Unease, nervousness, apprehension, fear—there are many different words to describe anxiety, because everyone has felt it in some way. And while it’s unpleasant, it’s also an important aspect of our body’s natural defense system. Luckily, by learning to decipher and manage the symptoms of anxiety—including recognizing signs of a possible anxiety disorder that requires professional support—we can see it for what it truly is: information in our emotional database.
Mood Metadata
Emotions can be pretty straightforward—when something good happens, we feel happy. If an unexpected issue pops up, we get frustrated. Emotions, and the sensations that accompany them, are information from our body that helps us to understand and react to what’s going on within and around us. In the right context, anxiety is no different. It’s just data, telling us to be alert and aware.
Observing System Notifications
Unfortunately, emotions aren’t always that easy to decipher, and because humans aren’t machines, we can’t exactly run diagnostics to pinpoint their cause or causes. But we can think of our emotions as notifications from our body that need to be addressed. Instead of accepting feelings at face value, take a moment to process. Is there an underlying issue you might be responding to?
Anxiety can be a sign of many things: being conflicted or uncertain, experiencing too much pressure or stress, even an underlying health issue—the list goes on. If you’re unsure of the origin, reflect on your thoughts and feelings rather than chalking it up to ‘just being anxious.’ Through reflection, you may find that unchecked negative or unhelpful thoughts are the culprit.
Somatic practices, which focus on full-body awareness, can also be beneficial. One technique is to simply observe your body’s sensations, without judgement, when you’re experiencing anxiety or any other ‘negative’ emotion. Becoming more in tune with your emotions and their accompanying sensations, in whatever way works best for you, will help with regulating them. Especially if you continue to work on making this a habit!
Seeking Emotional IT Support
If, despite your best efforts, anxiety symptoms continue and you find them impacting your life or feel like managing them is beyond your control, this could be a sign of an anxiety disorder. There are several distinct types, though some are more common—like generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), which is characterized by persistent and intense worrying about everyday things. If you’re concerned that you might have an anxiety disorder, it’s important to consult your doctor and pursue a diagnosis so you can get the help you need.
Thankfully, there are many evidence-based forms of anxiety treatment available. Counselling support can help both with addressing underlying causes of anxiety and teaching strategies to effectively manage it. If you’re struggling with anxiety or intense emotions and need support, reach out.
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