We Are Living in Dangerous Times, Part 5

“Man is not worried by real problems so much as by his imagined anxieties about real problems.” Epictetus (c. AD 55 – 135), Greek-speaking Stoic philosopher

Some people experience anxiety when they watch or listen to the news. Some feel uneasy and apprehensive when they watch horror or violent films. Experiencing anxiety, occasionally, is normal. Normally, anxiety just comes and goes naturally. It’s part of daily life and day-to-day living. Anxiety becomes abnormal when a person experiences it in an intense, persistent, and excessive manner. It becomes a clinical condition when you worry and become fearful about everyday situations.

What is anxiety?

Anxiety is an emotion. It is characterized by an unpleasant state of confusion and chaos. It is accompanied by a nervous behavior and is, more often than not, accompanied by somatic or physical or bodily symptoms.

Forms and types of anxiety

There are various types of anxiety. The most common is a generalized form of anxiety. It can also be a phobia (uncontrollable fear) or a social anxiety (examples are: stage fright, test anxiety, interview anxiety, mathematical anxiety, and stranger anxiety). When anxiety disorders involve repeated episodes of sudden intense feelings of fear and terror, it can be considered as a clinical disorder called panic attack.

Biological and Predisposing factors that can lead to the development of anxiety

Hyperactivity of the parts of the brain that control emotion – the amygdala and the hippocampus – is a factor to the development of anxiety. People who suffer from anxiety disorder show high activity, in aforesaid parts of the brain, in response to emotional stimuli. Genetic predisposition brought about by a positive history of anxiety disorder in the family, increases a person’s risk for anxiety disorder.

When do disorders pertaining to anxiety start to develop?

It can start during childhood and teen years. Clinical anxiety disorder can continue into adult life.

Why is there a need to understand and overcome anxiety?

Anxiety and panic interfere with daily activities. They are difficult to control. Simple problems that require simple solutions become “big deal” to a person with anxiety disorder. In other words, anxiety becomes so big that it is not proportional to the real life problem or situation. It is an overreaction to a situation. Problems about anxiety can last a long time. Thus, understanding and overcoming anxiety leads to a healthy and normal wellbeing.

(To be continued)