Anxiety Is Not Only a Thought

By Jennifer Norton:

Anxiety is not only something people think; it is also something people experience physically and emotionally throughout their entire bodies. It can feel like muscle tension, an inability to rest, guilt about slowing down, and emotional hypervigilance.

Emotional hypervigilance can be described as a feeling in the body of being on high alert and scanning for danger. The common saying “waiting for the other shoe to drop” can indicate that a person is experiencing anxiety.

Our bodies may also let us know we are experiencing anxiety when we toss and turn all night. Often, people will explain that they simply couldn’t get comfortable when, in truth, their bodies may be signaling stored anxiety. Muscle tension is often felt in the shoulders and neck when anxiety shows up, and it can even become severe enough to make a person physically ill.

The point is that anxiety shows up in many ways. It’s important to listen to your body and recognize the signs, just as you do when you notice that you may be getting a cold. Don’t let anxiety take charge of your life; you are in control. Even when it’s hard and uncomfortable, it’s important not to allow anxiety to overpower you.

Often, people will blame anxiety for why they choose not to do something, but today I challenge you to do one thing that may bring up those thoughts and feelings. Body movement, meditation, social connections, and purposeful positive thoughts can all help keep the anxiety monster from wreaking havoc.

Step outside your comfort zone and do something you’ve wanted to try. “Life is a banquet, and most poor suckers are starving to death.” Don’t be a sucker.