Anxiety: Friend or Foe?
Anxiety: Friend or Foe?
In our natural state, we are all anxious nearly all the time. We are hardwired for anxiety.
We evolved as high anxiety species. Anxiety is a naturally selected trait.
The anxious hunter gatherer survives. The “chilled out” hunter gatherer gets eaten.
Today, this fear response is not necessary b/c we are safe. RELATIVELY SPEAKING, in terms of physical threats/danger, we are much safer.
Back in the Day
Back in the day existence was brutal. Life expectancy was low.
We died from war, famine, and disease. Statistically speaking. In modern society, we are more likely to die from over consumption of sugar than pestilence, war or famine.
This physically safer “world” is brand new.
It’s only been a couple hundred years of safety. In evolutionary terms that does not even register.
Normal & Natural
Our brains have not evolved. We have not “adjusted” to this modern reality.
So, we scan the horizon for threats. And we search for danger.
If we can’t find immediate physical danger. Psychological threats will suffice.
If we can’t find an obvious threat, a manufactured one will do just fine.
This is our normal and natural state.
Forced Action
In addition, anxiety has an upside. It forces action.
The discomfort gets us moving. Imagine if we were just “chilled out” all the time. No worries.
It will all work out. Anxiety keeps tapping us on the shoulder. Telling us to do something, lest the beast find us.
Of course, a problem arises when anxiety becomes debilitating.
Overwhelming. Disabling. Paralyzing. Too much, too often.
The Real Problem
However, the real problem occurs when we act-out in self-defeating ways, in an effort to alleviate the anxiety.
This acting out is universal. Sometimes in big ways that are obvious.
Examples include, substance misuse, internet pornography, gambling, compulsive working, shopping/spending money we don’t have, emotional eating, and endless list of other serious behaviors.
Many times, the self-medicating is less obvious.
On & On
Picking a fight with your spouse to distract yourself (unconscious process).
- Wasting time on the internet
- Procrastination
- Irritability
- Sleeping all day
- Avoiding responsibilities
- Or becoming overly responsible
- Trying to control others
On and on ….
The Sweet Spot
There is a sweet spot with anxiety. Do not try to rid yourself of anxiety. You can’t. It’s not natural. Try to keep it in between the guardrails.
Maybe…Anxiety can become a “Superpower”.
I’m working on it.
