Why Do I Feel This Way... And How To Change It
Anxiety
An emotion that arises from trying to protect and prepare for threats.
Why do I feel this way?
What does anxiety mean?
Anxiety is a survival response.
It tries to protect you by imagining possible problems before they happen.
However, when it fires too often or too loudly, it traps you in fear of things that haven't happened yet.
How to change or channel it
What can help right now?
- Name exactly what you are afraid might happen.
- Ask"Is this happening now or am I predicting it?"
- Focus on one small thing you can control today.
- Ground yourself using your sensesName 5 things you see, 4 you touch, 3 you hear, 2 you smell, 1 you taste.
- Shrink your future window, think about the next 10 minutes only.
A little more light
Living with this feeling
At 2:13 a.m., Riley’s mind has opened twelve imaginary tabs. What if the test result is bad? What if the email sounded rude? What if the rent goes up? The room is silent, but Riley’s body is already running from futures that have not arrived. Riley puts both feet on the cool floor and names five things that are true right now. The answers are small: I am home. I am breathing. The email can wait until morning. Anxiety still whispers from the doorway, but it is no longer holding the whole room.
If anxiety returns tomorrow, meet it with curiosity before deciding what it means about you.
What could your future self thank you for doing the next time anxiety appears?
Showing A moment in real life of 3
Where it can lead