What Is Anxiety?
Is anxiety present in your life? How do you manage it? Is it possible to create a healthy relationship with your anxiety that is beneficial to your life?
Anxiety is a biological response to a constant source of stress and unease in your life that is trying to alert you to potential danger or further distress. Whether you are feeling constantly anxious and uneasy, or you aren’t sure where this feeling comes from, this episode is for you.
We explain what anxiety is and discuss the history of anxiety, how it can be helpful, and when to seek help if it starts to interfere with your life.
In This Episode:
- About Julia and Jane
- Defining anxiety
- Anxiety was – and can be – beneficial
- Our goal with this season
About Julia and Jane
We’re both Registered Counselling Therapists in Halifax, NS and met a couple of years ago.
‘There was a narrative therapy workshop in downtown Halifax, and we came … over to your place because you were going to drive us all there, and I came into your house and it was just so gorgeous with so much beautiful pottery and I learned that not only are you a therapist but you do pottery too!’ – Julia Smith
From pottery to private practice to podcasts! We have worked together in Nova Scotia through each transition, and it’s special to get the chance to share our insights with you today.
Defining anxiety
‘For [Brené Brown], anxiety is a feeling of escalating loss of control or that sense of uncertainty, and I think that’s a nice way to describe it … it certainly relates to anxiety, when we feel out of control or we’re feeling unsure of what’s coming next.’ – Jane Donovan
Anxiety is both a mental and physical experience because it arises from both a feeling of being out of control or a sense of uncertainty along with experiencing a physical response such as an elevated heart rate, quickened breathing, or a general sense of unease in the body.
Sometimes it can be hard to pay attention to your mind and you may not notice that you are experiencing anxiety until you experience physical sensations such as tense shoulders, a tight chest, or feeling frantic and overwhelmed.
Anxiety was – and can be – beneficial
‘Anxiety had a really good [biological] purpose because it made you aware of potential risks that could harm [you] or your family and it helped you to stay safe and alive.’ – Julia Smith
The trick with anxiety is learning to be aware of it, and then learning to calm it down.
‘It’s like a warning sign. When we’re feeling anxious, something happens [and] our muscles tense, our heart rate goes up, we feel excitement [and panic! (Julia)], we’re feeling butterflies … all these things are like, “Oh! Pay attention, what’s going on around you?” Because maybe there is something that you need to be paying attention to.’ – Jane Donovan
Perhaps there is something subtle about your daily routine, a prominent relationship with a partner or a family member, or even work that is bothering you but it seems too small to notice outright.
Taking stock of your life, your emotions, and your thoughts each day, whether alone or with a trained Halifax therapist, can help you to unwind the tight knot of anxiety.
Remember that anxiety is a normal emotion.
‘It can become problematic though when the anxiety starts to get in your way of what you want to do in life, and that you start to retreat or maybe not do certain things because the anxiety [has gotten] so big.’ – Julia Smith
Our goal with this season
Our hope is that this podcast season will help you to reduce some of the anxiety that you experience, and redirect the relationship you have with it from one of intensity to one of mutual benefit.
‘Having some anxiety is normal and okay and can be really helpful.’ – Julia Smith
Trying to understand anxiety, from its darkest parts to its gentlest reminders – together is more helpful than giving a general label, even though labels can be helpful.
Anxiety looks different from person to person, so there is no specific way that anxiety can show up. Taking the time to learn about yourself and how your body and mind react to anxiety and stress is the key to learning how to help yourself through it.
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Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:
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Book an appointment with Jane or Julia at www.insightmentalstaging.
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Read our blog about anxiety
