The world can feel like an uncertain place at the moment, and this is reflected in the number of people who are battling with anxiety. While it’s perfectly normal to feel anxious or worried from time to time, unmanaged anxiety can grip you in its jaws, and is very difficult to break free from.
This can affect your quality of life, and even become completely debilitating, making it difficult or impossible to sustain education, a career, or a social life. However, it is possible to challenge the unhelpful beliefs that can keep the cycle of anxiety going, and develop more positive coping strategies.
At our Manchester clinic, we specialise in therapy for anxiety, so please get in touch if you are interested in finding out more. Here are some common misunderstandings about anxiety that might be holding you back.
Anxiety is necessary to meet my standards
Some people view their tendency to worry about everything as a positive trait, or at least one that holds them to high standards. For example, if a person’s self-esteem is linked to ‘having an eye for detail’ or being ‘a caring and thoughtful parent/spouse/friend/partner’, then this can become a trap.
You might believe that if you were less anxious, you would become less valued in your job or relationships, or generally less competent and in control of your daily life. However, anxiety has no bearing on your character or competence, and it does not make you a better person. In fact, it feeds on your energy and time.
Anxiety is ‘all or nothing’
It can be common to feel that if you can’t completely eliminate anxiety from your life, then you have failed. However, this is an unrealistic goal for anyone, because it’s a necessary part of being human: it has evolved to help us be vigilant for danger and it can be useful in situations when we need to be sharp and focused.
The key is learning how to manage your anxiety rather than trying to conquer it completely. This can be done through learning some meditation techniques, or by retraining unhelpful thoughts with cognitive behavioural therapy.
Avoiding triggers is the key to managing anxiety
While avoiding certain situations that make you anxious can be beneficial in the short term, it doesn’t help you tackle the root causes, and your anxiety may start to show up in new situations that previously held no worries for you. Avoidance also confirms your belief that you can’t cope, and it can impact on your quality of life by limiting your world.
Talking about anxiety just feeds the monster
Some people believe that giving their fears air time will consolidate and deepen them, and will limit other people’s expectations of them. However, talking about fears with the right person, such as a trained therapist, can help you to put your worries in perspective without judgement, and this can be very empowering and freeing.