Anxiety Counseling

The Process of Anxiety

Your body reacts to the perception of a threat with an alarm mechanism called anxiety, followed by an automatic effort to protect itself with a defense mechanism. This process is essential to continued existence since without it, you would not be aware of threats or dangers. Everyone experiences anxiety in one form or another, and for some, sadly life is only slightly more than an existence in managing anxiety. However, some anxiety is unnecessary.

To understand anxiety, you need to first become acquainted with your own basic beliefs. Throughout life, you learn from experience and develop concepts of what is true, correct, or valid. These become your basic beliefs that remain in your subconscious as long as you live, or until you identify and change them. Every sensation that you see, hear, taste, feel or smell (or recall from memory) filters through your personal collection of basic beliefs. When a current experience (a stressor) is contrary to what your belief says it ought to be, you perceive this as a threat. An alarm mechanism is set off (adrenaline is released) and anxiety results.

When anxious, your automatic response is a defense mechanism in an effort to reduce anxiety. Defense mechanisms generally fall under the category "fight or flight," but can take many forms. Some are decidedly helpful, but others can be counterproductive. The use of alcohol or drugs, aggression, repression, denial or avoidance can be problematic, while relaxation and assertiveness may be highly effective and less likely to cause more problems than they resolve. Defense mechanisms, whether they reduce the discomfort of anxiety with or without adverse effects never cure the original problem. You need to look to prevention for long-term solutions to unnecessary anxiety.