Confronting anxiety

Anxiety is a common experience that touches many aspects of our lives—from our careers and personal goals to our closest relationships. It often appears as a powerful wave of emotions, yet beneath this surface, anxiety has a complex web of roots. 

Whether it arises from fears of rejection, the pressure to make the "right" decisions, or worries about new situations, these feelings can hold us back. While the internet offers numerous strategies for managing anxiety day-to-day, sometimes it’s worth taking a step back to explore where our anxiety truly originates.

Why we experience anxiety

Anxiety is a natural response to stress or perceived danger, yet each person experiences it uniquely. What we collectively call "anxiety" encompasses a variety of physical and emotional reactions. Sometimes, it’s our mind’s way of reacting to immediate fears, like job stress or financial worries. Other times, anxiety can stem from unresolved past experiences or patterns rooted in our sense of self-worth, relationships, or feelings of vulnerability.

Our anxiety can act as a signal, alerting us to slow down, consider potential risks, and protect ourselves — a vital survival function. Yet, when it dominates our lives, it can diminish our happiness, activating our body’s fight, flight, or freeze response too frequently. In our modern world, where we are often overstimulated, our brains can become overwhelmed by constant triggers, leading to an anxious state that says, "Too much — pull back."

While we may treat anxiety as a condition to "fix," it’s often a symptom of unresolved issues or limiting beliefs. Though techniques to calm ourselves can be helpful for managing anxiety’s impact, they don’t necessarily address its underlying causes.

The importance of facing our fears

In our quest for relief, we sometimes settle for quick fixes that ease symptoms without addressing the deeper roots of our anxiety. Techniques like meditation, breathing exercises, exercise, and positive thinking offer meaningful relief and are wonderful tools to incorporate into our lives. However, there’s also a deeper approach that, though less popular because it requires greater courage, can bring lasting change: confronting the root causes of our anxiety.

Why is this so important? Many of our anxieties stem from unacknowledged beliefs or unprocessed experiences that shape our perception of ourselves and the world. Our psyche is often trying to protect us from further pain, yet avoiding these underlying emotions can create confusion, hinder decision-making, and hold us back from meaningful relationships or achieving our potential at work. Since anxiety is an uncomfortable feeling, we develop various coping mechanisms, such as avoiding situations, withdrawing emotionally, or even engaging in addictive behaviours, as an escape.

It’s unrealistic to expect a life entirely free of anxiety; in fact, avoiding anxiety entirely may lead to greater distress, as we ignore an essential part of our emotional landscape. The goal, then, is not to eliminate anxiety but to understand and manage it effectively. To do so, we need to recognise its role in our lives and pay attention to the signals it is sending us.

The role of professional support

While daily techniques to manage anxiety can be relatively simple to adopt, uncovering its root causes often requires a more in-depth approach. Over time, we develop defence mechanisms to protect ourselves, sometimes by distancing from painful experiences. This may lead to a disconnection between our memories and our present-day understanding, as our body remembers what our conscious mind may try to forget. Our emotions and feelings often serve as guiding signals that shape our behaviour, while our minds work to rationalise or suppress them. Given this complexity, understanding ourselves can be challenging without external support.

Working with a professional offers a fresh perspective and creates a supportive space to explore these deeper layers. Therapy can act as a mirror, helping us see parts of ourselves that we might otherwise overlook. Through this process, we gain insights, deepen our self-awareness, and take essential steps toward healing.

It’s natural to feel resistance to facing difficult truths. Anxiety itself can feel overwhelming, and the journey of confronting it and making changes can seem even more daunting. This resistance is a natural part of the healing process, reminding us that growth takes time.

Final thoughts

Anxiety is one of the most common yet complex experiences. If you’re finding it difficult to manage on your own, consider reaching out for professional support. Together, you can explore and address the sources of your anxiety, helping you live a life that feels more balanced, intentional, and fulfilling.