Am I really anxious? – Answers from a Psychologist

There are many times when we wonder when we experience a specific set of emotions that brings our adrenaline up and makes our body sweat, whether this is what anxiety feels like. According to the American Psychological Association, anxiety is an emotion that can be distinguished by worried thoughts, tension, increased blood pressure, palpitation, sweating, etc. Anxiety is usually foresighted, a long-duration response from the body which occurs to disseminate any sort of threat.

Most often there are two types of reactions that take place when one experiences anxiety- emotional and physical. During an emotional reaction, it can be noticed that individuals experience repeated intrusive thoughts, all or no thinking, believing the worst will happen and becoming fearful about a certain situation, people, or things. Physical reactions are mostly trembling, feeling dizzy, rapid heartbeat, body temperature changes, light-headedness, sweating, nausea, shortness of breath, etc. There are always individual differences that have to be taken into account as the reactions to an anxious mind may vary from person to person.

Whether or not anxious thoughts are meaningful thoughts is a matter of debate. Even though we try to ignore it or divert our attention, in some situations, doing so could provide momentary respite. Because they are thoughts that arise in an effort to shield us from a threat that the body thinks is not good, anxious thoughts are just as legitimate as any other thoughts that a person has.

Anxiety, a safety-seeking activity, according to Salkovskis (1988, 1991), is “a behaviour that is performed in order to prevent or minimize a feared catastrophe,” and it has been proposed that such habits frequently explain why the absence of a feared event does not alter persons’ behavior negative views.

For example, going out with a friend to a secluded place may seem anxiety provoking as there is a question of danger, however, even if nothing happens even in such a situation, there is always going to be a fear about what could go wrong. Feeling anxious is as normal as any emotion.

When does anxiety become a problem?

It only becomes a matter of concern when it starts to impede one’s ability to enjoy, and interact in social spaces, etc. When the anxiety persists, it may develop into anxiety disorders such as generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety, and others. It’s important that in such situations individuals seek professional help from psychiatrists and psychologists in order to improve their mental well-being.

There are many advantages to opting to seek therapy when still having the emotion of anxiety, as opposed to waiting until it develops into a full-blown condition. It will serve as a preventative strategy and assist in preventing it from worsening into an anxiety disorder. However, there is always hope with mental health issues and it is that with the right treatment, individuals can manage or learn how to learn to live with anxiety or anxiety-based disorders.

What really matters?

It’s first that you acknowledge that you are experiencing anxiety and that it’s okay for you to experience it. Anything forward from there is a matter of how much we are willing to give ourselves the care we need.

I, Urveez Kakalia am a Counselling Psychologist in Mumbai and the Founder of ‘ImPerfect’. I have worked with local, national and international clients of varied ages from children, adolescents, young adults, adults and older adults; covering a wide range of problem areas- in person and online. Currently, I work with clients above the age of 18.

– Urveez Kakalia and Krupa Abraham.