WELL BEING
WHAT IS ANXIETY & WHY DO I HAVE IT nxiety can feel like a crazy thing completely out of
A
increases our rate of breathing to ensure that we are
your control. In actual fact, it feels so useless and
getting enough oxygen in to pump to the major muscles
mad that you can often be very harsh with
and organs for this strenuous activity our body is expecting.
yourself. Thoughts such as “I am being stupid” or “this is
We can start gasping, feeling dizzy and sometimes feel as if
ridiculous” might come to mind. Or maybe you are ashamed
we are hyperventilating. Our pupils will dilate which can
that you feel this way at all and want to hide it away. It is
cause spots in front of our eyes, saliva can decrease
as if you want to punish yourself for feeling this stupid,
resulting in a dry mouth and we can start sweating. Even
uncontrollable thing.
the hair on our body will feel as if it is standing up, mainly
But is it really stupid? Anxiety is not truly a mindless
because when we were still quite hairy we would have
thing, no matter how silly or out of control we feel. In
made an impressive spectacle with all our hair fluffed like
actual fact, it is an important and incredibly helpful aspect
that. In short, all the symptoms of anxiety are very common
of being a human. At one time it served us very well,
sense physical responses to the activation of the
ensuring our survival and the continued existence of the
sympathetic nervous system through a signal that warns it
human species. When we were still running around on the
of danger. And make no mistake, that is what your brain is
savannahs hunting animals and being hunted in turn, our
telling you. You are in dire danger.
body’s automatic anxiety response was very helpful indeed. When we received a fright or felt endangered our bodies
But what happens when we are no longer being hunted on the savannah? Our body hasn’t changed, yet we still
would react without having to wait for our brains to join
have all these physical and emotional responses. We have
the party, and this would often mean the difference
evolved to respond to stressful stimuli with a physical
between literal life and death. Either this sabre-tooth
response. Except that now our activating events are work
munched you as you hung around to consider your options,
stress, or a fight with a loved one, or a confrontation with
or you managed to skedaddle which allowed you to see
an angry boss. We are no longer in physical danger, but our
one more day. This is called a sympathetic process, meaning
brains have not yet cottoned on to that fact. It is trying to
that it is controlled by the sympathetic nervous system
save your life with an outdated method that is no longer
which controls our automatic fight or flight responses. One
accurate or always that helpful. You will sure be glad for
of the consequences of this automatic instant response is
that process when you touch a hot stovetop and that very
that it tends to be an all or nothing reaction – I don’t flee a
same system helps you pull your hand away before you can
little, I flee a lot.
even become aware that you have burned yourself. When
When our sympathetic nervous system is activated by an
we are being critical towards ourselves for this response or
external event our brain releases the chemicals adrenaline
feeling shame, it is a self-punishment for something that is a
and noradrenaline from glands in the kidneys, which spurs
biological imperative, that is indeed helpful at appropriate
your body into action until either the chemicals are burned
times and that is an active attempt by your brain to keep
out or the parasympathetic system sends us the signals that
you safe.
we can now relax and let down our guard.
Instead of that harsh inner critic we should try a more
These chemicals have very real effects on our physical
compassionate, thankful approach to our own behaviour.
body as we prepare to fight for our lives or run away to
By saying “thank you for trying to keep me safe, but it is
live another day. Our hearts will start beating strongly,
not necessary in this instance” we can create some space
pumping blood away from our extremities (e.g. fingers and
for ourselves in order to refocus and try some things that
toes) and into our major muscles and organs. This can lead
are actually more helpful and supportive.
to the numb or tingly feeling we can get in our extremities
Jo du Preez 07957312457 www.wellinmindtherapy.co.uk
and the heart palpitations we feel when anxious. It also
Email: contact@wellinmindtherapy.co.uk
20
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2020
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