We feel anxious when something about life threatens us. It could be an unexpected circumstance, a situation which is anticipated with dread, or the need to make a major decision. It could be anything which feels threatening or dangerous.

Anxiety is more than fear and worry. It's fear and worry magnified to the point where it seems to take over your body and your life.

You may feel as if you haven't taken a deep breath for weeks.

You may find that you have no appetite.

Sleeping may be difficulty.

You may begin to feel as if you ARE anxiety.

The Energy of Anxiety

When any animal feels threatened (humans included) its body produces increased adrenaline in order to give it the extra energy needed to escape the threatening situation. The human power of imagination, however, complicates this situation.

We can experience a feeling of threat when there is none. We may think about threats in the future, and our body, not knowing the difference between a physical and an imagined threat, will still produce extra adrenaline.

The heartbeat may quicken, the solar plexus may feel as if a flock of butterflies flutter within it, and the brain seems to have crossed wires. If the adrenaline doesn't get released through action there's no reduction in these symptoms, and a state of anxiety results.

The Logic of Anxiety

Therefore, one of the most effective things to do when you feel anxious is to be in physical motion. If you can, take a walk, ride a bike, engage in any activity which will put you in an aerobic state. If, for whatever reason, you can't get exercise (you might, for example, be in a plane) breathe as deeply as you can. This will relax tense muscles, provide much-needed oxygen, and, if you focus on your
breathing, help to interrupt your anxious thoughts.

These measures will help to release much of the adrenaline, and reduce your anxiety level. They may not take it away altogether, though, because you still need to deal with the mind which is imagining a threat. I, for example, become anxious whenever I have to deal with impersonal institutions (banks, government agencies, etc.)

My anxiety is in part because I have received a piece of paper which informs me that unless I do X I will suffer the penalty of Y. Anonymous threats are intimidating, especially if I don't know why I'm being threatened (the element of unfamiliarity).

My anxiety is often deepened by a feeling of inadequacy. Not only don't I know what to do, but I'm not the kind of person who would ever know what to do about this threat. This comes up for me as a self-esteem issue.

Variations on a Theme

Anxiety can also be connected to survival issues. The anxiety-producing sight of a hungry predator headed in your direction clearly relates to survival, but so do other experiences.

Stage fright is a form of anxiety, and the stage may be the traditional one or any situation in which one must speak before a number of people, or to one person, i.e., a boss about a raise, the other participant in a relationship problem, etc.

In stage fright, the symptoms of anxiety are (if possible) intensified, and the feeling of inadequacy (I can't do this) are also heightened. Specifics of the self-esteem issue may be: "I'm not good enough" (as an actor or speaker); "I don't deserve this" (the raise or improved relationship). The survival issue is, "If I don't I won't get that part (or job or raise).

A variant of stage fright is social anxiety, in which one feels utterly uncomfortable in any social situation. The inner monologue is "No one wants to talk to me; I don't know what to say at parties; I'm not interesting. I am a social failure, and therefore (here we hearken back to prehistoric times) I will be thrown out of the communal cave and left to starve to death."

Contemplating a major change can also initiate anxiety, and again, self-esteem issues can be the source of it. One asks, "Am I really capable of making a wise choice? What if I make a mistake? What if I ruin my life?"

First, Calm Down

(A note: None of the suggestions below are intended to replace medication or medical or therapeutic assistance, especially when anxiety is a chronic condition.)

The ideal step after breathing and running is to take action in terms of whatever response is appropriate (calling the bank manager and demanding to know about the check you never wrote which appears on your statement, trying out your "I want a raise" speech on patient friends). When one is truly anxious, though, that isn't always possible until the anxiety level is reduced.

You may find it helpful to take out a notebook and write down all the things you can do to solve the problem. Call your friends. It isn't their problem, and they won't be anxious about it. This alone will calm you down.

And don't forget that someday they will call on you for the same favor. When they do notice how their worries don't make you anxious.

Two particular phrases which have often helped me: "This, too, will pass" and "Someday I'll laugh at this."

It will pass, and I have laughed.

Author's Bio: 

Connie Barrett is a flower essences counselor for people and pets, a Reiki Master, and gives crystals workshops. She is the co-owner of Beyond the Rainbow, http://www.rainbowcrystal.com, a web site with resources for well-being and gifts with spirit. Beyond the Rainbow publishes two free email newsletters and hundreds of articles on the web site about self-growth, crystals, flower essences, and more. Connie and her partner also also give counseling by email and teach an email course on the chakras. You can contact her at elfin@ulster.net