Anxiety is a protector of Life—but ironically—not of living.
Anxiety is Fundamentally Wise
Anxiety is a natural part of being human. Since the time when we lived in caves, it has played a crucial role—alerting us to potential threats and encouraging us to adapt. But we aren’t cave people anymore, and our brains can find great difficulty distinguishing between real threats and imagined ones. When it becomes overwhelming or constant, anxiety exceeds its purpose and starts to hurt instead of help us.
Anxiety is a protector of life—but ironically, not of living. It’s meant to be a temporary signal, not a constant companion directing our every move. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by worry, fear, or panic, know that you're not alone—and support is available.
When Does Anxiety Become Suffering?
Everyday anxiety shows up when challenges or threats come your way, chosen and not chosen, and usually fades once those challenges are resolved. But for some, anxiety sticks around even long after the situation has passed, lingering like an unwelcome, abrasive guest. When it persists without a clear reason, it can interfere with your ability to fully engage with and enjoy life—and that can be really painful.
About 20% of adults in the U.S. experience anxiety that significantly impacts their day-to-day life. This might look like constant worry, panic attacks, fear of social situations, or specific phobias. Anxiety is normal, common, and often wise, but it shouldn’t take control of your life.
Understanding Anxiety: Symptoms in Body, Mind, and Heart
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Anxiety often presents through physical symptoms like a fast or irregular heartbeat, restlessness, sweating, feeling flushed or dizzy, shallow breathing, and nausea. You might also experience teeth grinding, muscle tension, physical aches and pains, digestive issues, changes in appetite, and sleep disturbances.
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In terms of mental symptoms, anxiety can lead to excessive worry, racing thoughts, and difficulty concentrating. You may feel irritable, constantly on edge, or have a sense of impending doom. It might also cause you to worry about others' perceptions, seek constant reassurance, and feel disconnected from your surroundings.
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Emotionally, anxiety can manifest as feelings of dread, disconnection, a lack of fulfillment, existential concerns, and emotional numbness. It impacts how you engage with life and can make finding joy and meaning challenging.
What if the Problem is Not Anxiety, but Our Relationship to It?
My approach to managing anxiety goes beyond quick fixes—we go deeper to uncover and address its root causes. Anxiety has a paradoxical nature: the more we resist it, the stronger it becomes; but when we acknowledge and accept it, it often begins to lose its grip. Rather than letting anxiety dictate our lives, we learn to face it with curiosity, understanding how it works and channeling its energy into clarity rather than confusion.
By recognizing and accepting anxiety, we can transform it into a source of empowerment. We learn when it serves us, when it doesn’t, and how to respond in either case. Embracing anxiety instead of avoiding it builds psychological resilience, allowing us to live in alignment with our values—even in the presence of fear. If you're ready to work with yourself rather than against yourself, I’m here to help.