Why We Don’t Actually Want Anxiety to Go Away
When most people think about anxiety, their immediate reaction is, "I just want it to go away." But here's an unpopular opinion: We don’t want anxiety to disappear entirely. The goal of anxiety therapy isn’t to eliminate anxiety, but rather to change your relationship with it.
Understanding Anxiety's Role
Anxiety isn’t your enemy; it’s your protector. It’s the part of your brain designed to keep you safe from danger, alerting you to potential threats. When functioning correctly, anxiety is like a watchful guardian, ensuring you’re cautious in risky situations. However, for those with anxiety disorders, the messaging system is malfunctioning. Your brain is stuck in a state of emergency, constantly flooding you with false alarms that create a sense of imminent danger, even when there’s no real threat.
The Overactive Smoke Alarm: A Metaphor
Imagine your anxiety as a highly sensitive smoke alarm installed in your kitchen, right above the stove. Every time you cook, regardless of what it is, the alarm blares. Initially, you might panic, thinking there’s a fire, but after several false alarms, you begin to realize that the alarm is reacting to even the tiniest hint of burnt toast. You learn that not every alarm requires an emergency response.
This is similar to what happens with an anxiety disorder. Your brain is like that overactive smoke alarm, detecting danger where there is none. While the physical effects of anxiety—like a racing heart, sweaty palms, or a sense of dread—are very real, they’re often responses to a false alarm.
Rewiring Your Response to Anxiety
In anxiety therapy, one of your main tasks is to rewire how you respond to these alarms. It’s about recognizing when your anxiety is sending false signals and teaching your brain and body to react differently. Instead of responding to every anxious thought or physical sensation as though there’s a real threat, you start to differentiate between actual danger and the misfires of your anxious brain.
Over time, this practice builds long-term relief and confidence. You begin to trust yourself more and your anxiety less. When those false alarms go off, you recognize them for what they are—misfires of your brain’s protective mechanism. And just like with that overactive smoke alarm, you stop reacting with panic because you know the toast isn’t burning, and there’s no real fire to fear.
Embracing Anxiety as a Part of You
The ultimate goal isn’t to rid yourself of anxiety but to live with it in a healthier way. By changing your relationship with anxiety, you can acknowledge its role as a protector while not letting it control your life. You’ll learn to carry on, even when the alarms go off, with the understanding that not every alarm is a call to action.
Anxiety is a part of who you are, and it’s there to help keep you safe. The key is learning to navigate its signals with wisdom and discernment, so you can live confidently without being overwhelmed by false alarms.
Ready to build a healthier relationship with anxiety? Get your copy of my Anxiety Starter Pack today and begin your journey towards confidence, calm, and clarity.
