“Anxiety: is an emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts and physical changes like increased blood pressure.
People with anxiety disorders usually have recurring intrusive thoughts or concerns. They may avoid certain situations out of worry. They may also have physical symptoms such as sweating, trembling, dizziness or a rapid heartbeat.”
I don’t feel that definition is all encompassing or defines this issue in an absolute comprehensive manner. I think there are so many varied aspects to Anxiety; some so far reaching that I can’t comprehend the complexity. I have always been a nervous person, I am always thinking, over-thinking mostly. Most times it’s about small situations or unimportant things and in doing so can sometimes have many positive benefits by analyzing the situation allowing me to re-adjust my trajectory. However, sometimes these small things can develop into big things, it can become overwhelming and then transform into a state of consciousness that’s debilitating. It can become something that I can’t remove focus from and takes over control. Anxiety and Depression have a cyclical cause and effect relationship. These are terms that are thrown around frequently but what is it really? In modern medicine Anxiety can/is defined as a disorder:
“Disorder /dis•or•der/ (dis-or´der) a derangement or abnormality of function; a morbid physical or mental state.”
I have heard it talked about in a way that the diagnosis makes the conclusion that something is wrong, something is abnormal, something in fact is broken and that Anxiety is the result of this.
I can’t write this off as completely untrue. Medical Scholars smarter than I, know a vast deal more regarding the complex science behind this issue. Something I am sure of for myself is that Anxiety can also be a symptom. A symptom of something we have developed within ourselves. It can be considered a result of an action that we chosen and or are causing for ourselves. The good news is then we have the ability to control it and also fix it. I think Anxiety is in fact a normal part of life. I think it is something all of us will come to experience at some point, furthermore I think it can be good.
Anxiety is painful; it is an emotional pain that holds a tight grip deep down inside of us and that in no way feels good. What is causing it? I believe that Anxiety comes from something within us that is being brought to the forefront of our thought showing us that something is wrong; rather than the diagnosis of something being broken. I think that Anxiety can come as a result of many things: an interaction with someone else, a relationship issue, a choice we made but can also be a result of something that has happened to us. The physical feeling of Anxiety is an indication of us knowing something is wrong, something not being right. There is something we know we need to change or fix; a wrong that needs to be made right. It can be something that has been building and compounding for years. It can be something you have kept to yourself and never had the courage or ability to confront. It can be large, ugly, entangled, dark and tortuous.
The good can start by identifying the source. It takes some extensive searching and self reflection, it can take meditation, it can take prayer and it most defiantly takes time. As humans we have the unique ability to change, we can create a solution to remedy the source. We have the ability to ask for forgiveness for something we have done, forgive someone who has done something to us, learn from and make peace with any event. This is the Challenge; it is one that is difficult, requires hard work and will not be comfortable. We have the ability to remedy and eliminate these feelings of Anxiety by making the situation right. We can’t forget we are designed to adapt; without adversity there won’t be any change because; it’s only by pushing though that adversity and overcoming that you develop lasting change. The only way you can progress along this path is progressing though adversity. You can use these experiences to become better and grow into a better/stronger/more-knowledgeable human.
Anxiety feels terrible but should be thought of as an indicator/precursor to address something you need to change. In overcoming this adversity created by Anxiety you can become stronger. This is what makes it good.
“The basic difference between an ordinary man and a warrior is that a warrior takes everything as a challenge, while an ordinary man takes everything as a blessing or a curse. ”