We need to ask if feeling anxious a normal state for human beings?
It is an early warning system that tells us we need to observe our environment differently and pay special attention at least until we have more information and know how to handle a situation.
Anxiety serves to keep us safe from possible perceived threats that we need to process. Nonetheless, the answer there’s a definite yes. You only have to Google in the word anxiety to realise that most people feel it’s something that they need to get over. What really is worrying in today’s world is however that the word anxiety now denotes a mental disorder. Now please pay attention.
And so it’s almost as if it’s by chance that we figure out how to deal with our own anxiety. This is the case. What really was less apparent on the web is anxiety skills training. Anxiety can be well known on a continuum.
At one end anxiety arises when mostly there’s a perceived threat that needs processing and at the other end is the person whose anxiety mechanism is out of control which leaves them in a state of heightened anxiety generally.
There is another continuum.
At one end is the person who always is able to stay calm, react appropriately and resolve the anxiety inducing situation. I’m pretty sure, that’s the continuum of people’s ability to process anxiety and deal with it effectively. Nonetheless, added to those two situations is the fact that anxiety is taught to us by out society, and certainly as children we can develop very negative reactions to anxiety producing situations if that is the behavior we see around us. Therefore this might just go a long way to reducing the incidence of anxiety from becoming a mental health problem.
Ann Miller is a certified mental health coach and wellness writer with a strong background in psychology and emotional resilience. With over a decade of experience in helping individuals manage stress, anxiety, and burnout, Ann specializes in making complex mental health topics accessible and empowering.
She holds a Master's degree in Clinical Psychology and has worked with both individual clients and organizations to promote emotional well-being and work-life balance. Through her writing, Ann aims to break the stigma surrounding mental health and offer practical, compassionate guidance for everyday challenges.
When she's not writing or consulting, Ann enjoys early morning yoga, quiet reading time, and exploring nature trails with her dog. Her personal philosophy: "Mental health is not a luxury — it’s a foundation for everything we do."