On Anxiety

Anxiety, in behavioral terms, is the fear that something bad is imminent. When we fear that something bad is about to happen we have common and naturally caused symptoms. We might be distracted by the thing that we fear. We might not be able to concentrate on the task at hand. We might experience a racing or elevated heart beat. We might feel shaky or we might actually or literally shake. We might tense up in some area of our body in anticipation of what we dread. Because of these physical reactions and tension we might find it difficult to breathe. We might be well aware of these physical realities and suspect that we might die. When we experience many or all of these symptoms at once our anxiety can rise to the level of panic. Panic is usually short lived because whether on a conscious or subconscious level we realize that nothing dreadful has happened and our panic subsides. It can however reoccur.

Aside from these more clinical symptoms of anxiey and panic there are behavior symptoms as well. The behavioral effects of anxiety are less acute than the clinical symptoms but they can have a dramatic effect on our life. For example, if we are anxious about flying we might avoid flying altogether. In other words the shape and course of our life can be determined by our experience of anxiety. Of course people can experience a very happy and meaningful life apart from flying or traveling by air, but their lives are nevertheless controlled to this extent by their anxiety.

If we are anxious about looking or sounding foolish in front of people we might avoid all situations that involve public address or public speaking. If we are anxious or if we are fearful that others might think that what we write is foolish, we might avoid writing or publishing what we write. If we are fearful that we cannot do a job which is of some interest to us, we might never apply for the job and never have the opportunity to see if we can succeed at it.

While the clinical symptoms of anxiety can be quite alarming, the behavior effects are often more pervasive and more influential in determining the course of our lives.

Most if not all people suffer from some level of anxiety. Not all people however are aware it. We can live in denial of the emotional and behavioral realities which we experience.