So, as a psychologist, I often answer the question, “What is anxiety?” Okay, so no one asks it like that, but what they do ask is “How do I get rid of my anxiety?” and it’s nearly impossible to answer one without answering the other. They are often disappointed to hear the short answer which is, well, you don’t. It’s okay I can hear the boo from here but let me explain.
Why We Experience Anxiety
Fundamentally, anxiety is a worry about the future, a kind of speculative, largely negative fortune-telling. This might seem like a categorically bad thing to have, after all, wouldn’t it be better if the automatic approach was to be optimistic about the future? Not necessarily. You see, anxiety, for most human existence, has been our ability to look at a variety of factors and create an assessment of how dangerous a given activity or situation is, which has been an important skill in the continued survival of humanity. This is because for the majority of human existence, most threats were physical, and any threat could be a lethal one. Things look a bit different these days, with most threats being social or financial, rather than physical, yet anxiety still holds an important place. It acts as our risk assessment tool, our barometer for danger, and our early warning sign.
Until it doesn’t.
Transforming Anxiety: From Fear to Empowerment Through Therapy
This is where anxiety starts to become something that needs to be addressed. When every new situation is something to be feared, every person is a threat, and danger lurks around every corner. Okay maybe I’m exaggerating a bit for most of us, but anxiety sure causes its fair share of insomnia, and frequently prevents people from trying new things, or exploring new relationships. This is where therapy can help. Anxiety isn’t meant to be feared (pun very much intended). It’s not even meant to be conquered, overcome or managed. It’s meant to be wielded. Like any good quality tool, it’s extremely good at what it does, but when used out of context or applied too generally, it can also become ineffective, limiting or even dangerous.
So, if this sounds like you and you are anxious about starting therapy… fair. Reach out and we will work together on building the tangible skills and tools you need to wield your anxiety and make it work for you, instead of against you. Contact Cascade Psychology and Wellness today for a free, no-obligation consultation, and let’s work together to develop the skills you need to transform your relationship with anxiety. Call us at 587-207-5191or reach out online via our online contact us form or email.