For some of us, the state of anxiety is so uncomfortable that we may fear that even mild anxiety will escalate into full blown panic. Understanding anxiety is a great way start to overcome it.
Physical symptoms are a part of anxiety.
There is an underlying purpose to all fear, which is survival. It starts in the deep part of our brain. We are all hardwired for survival. The “stress” response kicks in hormones and activates body systems that prepare us physically to fight or flee. These automatic responses can save our lives in a time of real physical danger. The stresses of modern day life are typically not physical danger but psychological or emotional. Humans can trigger the fight or flight response just by thinking about something. Our body doesn’t know the difference.
Physical symptoms can be uncomfortable.
If you are not in physical danger they physical symptoms of anxiety are uncomfortable but they are not dangerous. As you learn to recognize anxiety and learn to use your breath and other tools to ride it out you can even avoid a panic attack.
How you think about anxiety is really important.
Physical symptoms of anxiety are time limited and what you tell yourself about it can impact how your body responds. Remember there are other conditions that are similar to the physical symptoms of anxiety. Think about jogging on a treadmill for a mile. When we are angry some of the same physical responses kick in. When we are excited there are physical similarities. For example, think about a steep roller coaster ride some people get scared and others get excited. Is the roller coaster ride stressful? It is their perception and expectations that are different in that example.
Learn how to calm the body.
Learning to calm the body is a good first step in getting a handle on anxiety. There are numerous tools available that you can learn from online resources and counseling to help you begin to handle anxiety instead of anxiety handling you.
