Anxiety: Can’t Shake the Feeling of Dread? Tired of Living on Edge?
By Ashwini Anand (Ash), Clinical Psychologist, Chethana Psychology, Melbourne
Anxiety is a topic that’s being discussed more than ever and for good reason. If you’re reading this, you may be struggling with anxious feelings, wondering if your experience is “normal,” or searching for ways to find relief. Whether you’re seeking therapy or simply curious, I want you to know: anxiety is a deeply human experience, and you’re not alone.
What Is Anxiety?
When Does Anxiety Become a Disorder?
Anxiety is more than just worry or nervousness. It’s a complex emotional response that can show up in your thoughts, body, and behaviours.
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR), anxiety becomes a disorder when it causes significant distress or interferes with important areas of your life, like your relationships or work (American Psychiatric Association, 2022). The line between “normal” anxiety and an anxiety disorder comes down to intensity, duration, and impact. It’s not just the presence of anxiety that matters, but how much it affects your daily living (Stein & Sareen, 2015).
Why Can’t I Just Get Rid of Anxiety?
It’s completely understandable to want anxiety gone. It can cloud your mind, sap your energy, and make even simple tasks feel overwhelming. However, research in neuroscience and psychology shows that anxiety is wired into our brains as a natural threat-detection system (LeDoux, 2015). Trying to suppress or control anxiety often backfires, making those feelings stronger, a phenomenon called the “paradox of control” (Hayes et al., 2006).
Anxiety Across the Lifespan and Genders
Anxiety does not discriminate. Recent global studies show that it can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, or background (World Health Organisation, 2022). Children may show anxiety through irritability or behavioural changes, while adults might experience restlessness, overthinking, or even physical symptoms. However, anxiety appears to be a universal experience (Beesdo-Baum & Knappe, 2022; Lebowitz et al., 2019).
Anxiety: More Than What Meets the Eye
Anxiety often feels like the only emotion present, but it’s usually just the tip of the iceberg. Research shows that anxiety is frequently a secondary emotion, surfacing in response to deeper, primary feelings such as hurt, anger, or sadness (Greenberg, 2015). When these underlying emotions are unrecognised or difficult to express, anxiety can act as a protective shield.
Primary emotions such as sadness, anger, fear, joy, surprise, and disgust are instinctive responses to life events (Shaver et al., 2017). In contrast, secondary emotions like anxiety develop as reactions to these initial feelings. Recognising and addressing your primary emotions can foster greater self-understanding and compassion (Greenberg, 2015).
Anxiety: Is it an obstacle or a guide?
When anxiety shows up, it’s easy to view it as just a roadblock to peace and happiness. However, neuroscience and psychotherapy research reveal that anxiety, like all emotions, serves an important purpose. Emotions act as signals, alerting us to unmet needs, crossed boundaries, or situations that matter to us (Panksepp, 2009).
Rather than trying to push anxiety away, compassionate therapy invites us to listen to what this emotion is telling us. Research on emotion-focused and acceptance-based therapies shows that exploring the meaning of anxiety and the emotions associated with it can lead to deeper self-understanding, greater emotional regulation, and improved well-being (Hayes et al., 2006; Greenberg, 2015).
Feeling Left Behind and Alone?
In a world that moves so quickly, it’s easy to feel like everyone else is cruising through life while you’re struggling, especially when anxiety dominates your day-to-day experience. If it feels like anxiety is ruling your world, reaching out for help from a mental health professional can be beneficial. Research consistently shows that individuals who seek therapy for anxiety experience significant improvements in symptoms and overall quality of life (Cuijpers et al., 2016; Hofmann et al., 2012).
In summary, understanding and addressing anxiety through evidence-based interventions can lead to meaningful change. If anxiety is impacting your daily life, consider reaching out to a mental health professional. Seeking support is a sign of strength, and you deserve compassionate care and connection.
References
American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed., text rev.).
Beesdo-Baum, K., & Knappe, S. (2022). Developmental epidemiology of anxiety disorders. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 31(3), 403–419.
Bögels, S. M., & Mansell, W. (2004). Attention processes in the maintenance and treatment of social phobia: Hypervigilance, avoidance and self-focused attention. Clinical Psychology Review, 24(7), 827–856.
Greenberg, L. S. (2015). Emotion-focused therapy: Coaching clients to work through their feelings.
Cuijpers, P., Karyotaki, E., Weitz, E., Andersson, G., Hollon, S. D., van Straten, A., & Ebert, D. D. (2016). The effects of psychotherapies for major depression in adults on remission, recovery and improvement: A meta-analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders, 202, 511–517.
Greenberg, L. S., & Watson, J. C. (2006). Emotion-focused therapy for depression.
Hayes, S. C., Strosahl, K. D., & Wilson, K. G. (2006). Acceptance and commitment therapy: An experiential approach to behaviour change.
Hofmann, S. G., Asnaani, A., Vonk, I. J., Sawyer, A. T., & Fang, A. (2012). The efficacy of cognitive behavioural therapy: A review of meta-analyses. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 36(5), 427–440.
LeDoux, J. E. (2015). Anxious: Using the brain to understand and treat fear and anxiety.Lebowitz, E. R., Marin, C., Martino, A., Shimshoni, Y., & Silverman, W. K. (2019). Parent-based treatment as efficacious as cognitive-behavioural therapy for childhood anxiety: A randomised noninferiority study of Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 58(2), 208–214.
Panksepp, J. (2009). Brain emotional systems and qualities of mental life. Handbook of Neuroscience for the Behavioural Sciences, 1, 1–26.
Stein, M. B., & Sareen, J. (2015). Clinical practice. Generalised anxiety disorder. New England Journal of Medicine, 373(21), 2059–2068.
World Health Organisation. (2022). Mental health: Strengthening our response.
Shaver, P. R., Mikulincer, M., & Gross, J. J. (2017). A lifespan perspective on emotion regulation: Age differences in emotion regulation strategies and their implications for well-being. In J. J. Gross (Ed.), Handbook of emotion regulation (2nd ed., pp. 669–685). The Guilford Press.
Disclaimer: This blog post is provided for general information and psychoeducation purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are seeking mental health support or assessment, please consult a qualified health professional.