If are you are about to be mauled by a psychotic Emu with rabies it will get you out of danger, but in most situations in life at unhealthy levels, it is not helpful. At unhealthy levels, it can severely impact and limit the most important areas of our lives. If you have issues with anxiety and ignore it, it can get worse over time and spread out so you avoid things, find it difficult to function and it be severely limiting. Fortunately, there are effective ways to make sure you keep your anxiety at a healthy level.
Anxiety is basically the sense that something bad is going to happen. It is also always about the future, whether it is a second, or decade away. It is the feeling you get when you send an SMS to as special kink friend saying “Can’t wait to see you in that Cher wig, tying me up while smacking me with a rubber Ken doll while spreading Thai basil dip on my pink bits” and Siri instead sends it to Nana. Your heart races, thoughts become unclear and cloudy, your body temperature increases, you can feel shaky and tight in your chest. Your whole body and mind are very quickly transformed so you can rapidly run, fight or freeze even though you are not under physical threat. Your brain will power down anything to do with rational decision making, judgement and emotional intelligence. This reaction is not ideal if you are in a job interview or explaining your message to Grandma to your Evangelical Christian family over pastrami sandwiches.
To overcome unhealthy levels of anxiety, there are two main areas of focus. One is the way in which your body responds and second is the thoughts you have. When you deliberately calm your body such as slow and controlled breathing, it tells your brain that you are not under physical attack and it regulates your heart rate. This is the first thing to do if you are feeling very anxious in the moment. Also write down your thoughts making sure you find ones that are catastrophic and future oriented. Challenge the irrational thoughts, and ask questions such as ‘how is that worse than bad and actually terrible? ‘Compared with being tortured for three days by a demon possessed Nun on MDMA in remote Czechoslovakia, how bad is it really?’ Also challenge the ‘what if’ thoughts about the future. ‘How is it that I’ve suddenly developed the capacity to predict the future and how do I know that will definitely happen?’ Make sure you also regularly take time out for soothing activities and to rest your mind.
For those who have ongoing challenges with unhealthy levels of anxiety, it can be worth seeing your GP for a Mental Health Care Plan and seeing a psychologist who can work with you to develop insights and tools to get back in control. It might also be important for you to find a place that has a strong focus and understanding for those in our LGBTIQ+ communities such as Centre for Human Potential.
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