5 Facts about Anxiety - Uncovering the Hidden Truths from Experience
- Theo
- Feb 17, 2022
- 3 min read
Updated: Mar 27
Anxiety is a word many of us use in our daily lives and is something we are increasingly aware of. Although we all know the word, we don’t necessarily know how it works.
Anxiety is something we all experience in one way or another
Anxiety is a process that has come about through evolution and is designed to protect us from dangers. Although we can all experience anxiety, it is on different levels for different people and has different triggers. For some, their anxiety response may get triggered by a stressful job, for others it may be triggered by being in small spaces. Anxiety gives you the adrenaline to either fight the danger or run away which is why it‘s such an unpleasant feeling to sit with.
Anxiety is often a result of exposure to long periods of stress
Stress in small doses is actually good for us. It enables us to perform tasks effciently. However, prolonged periods of stress are really bad for our health. This is where the anxiety kicks in. It’s effectively a warning light like on a car, letting you know something is wrong. It’s protecting you. This is why having a balanced lifestyle is so important and will keep the anxiety at bay.
Anxiety disorders can be genetic
Unfortunately, there are people who are genetically predisposed to suffering with high levels of anxiety. People who are more aware of their surroundings, sensitive to sounds, etc. are more likely to experience anxiety as the subconscious can pick up on more potential threats. Take for example walking down a street. You may notice someone behind you and your anxiety may kick in to warn you that someone is close. The likelihood is that they are just walking in the same direction as you, but there is still a potential danger. If you don’t notice them, the anxiety wouldn’t have a trigger.
Anxiety can cause memory loss
It’s not the scary kind of memory loss but it’s more of being unable to recall what happened when anxious. Anxiety causes high levels of cortisol which can lead to struggling to recall memories. Anxiety can also play havoc with your sleep pattern, and not having enough sleep will mean less focus. Being anxious in a particular moment can be so overwhelming that once that feeling goes away, it’s hard to recall any other details because of how intense the anxiety was. That was the only thing you were able to focus on in the moment.
Anxiety presents itself physically
One of the most common misconceptions with anxiety is that you can just stop thinking about it and all your problems are solved. As mentioned at the start, anxiety is a response to help you fight or run away. That adrenaline can manifest itself in various ways such as sweaty palms, trembling, etc. Your brain and stomach are also strongly connected which means experiencing anxiety can mean experiencing severe stomach aches. Managing the physical symptoms of anxiety can be incredibly difficult which is why the healing process is a long journey.
Anxiety can manifest itself differently in different people but it’s not something that should be feared. It is there to help us. Our role is to understand why it is triggered and what we can change to lead a more fulfilling life.