Once you identify the stress trigger, you can find ways to reduce or remove the stress altogether.
When you encounter a situation that triggers a fight, flight or freeze response, your brain may learn to react the same way if the situation occurs again. Depending on how you reacted previously, anxiety can develop and intensify due to the uncertainty or unknowns of the situation. If your previous response was to freeze or run away, it reinforces the thought and increases feelings of uncertainty, which can strengthen your anxiety. Our brains are incredibly complex and unique but can trick us in many basic situations.
Unfortunately, anxiety can grow and become a lifelong condition, but it can be overcome with hard work. Sometimes, medication may be necessary, as anxiety is a medical condition that can affect anyone at any time and for several reasons. In England, 6 out of 100 people will be diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder in any given week.
Anxiety is a natural and valid feeling, and it should not be dismissed or frowned upon. During a severe attack, individuals may experience panic attacks that can feel like a heart attack, headaches, sweaty palms, and nausea. In such situations, someone may need to support the individual to help them slow down their thinking and breathing. Slowing the thought process enables individuals to think more logically and clearly. Being told to "get over it" is not helpful. Hearing such statements can be hurtful as it is difficult to overcome. It is a traumatic experience that requires understanding and support.
There are three responses to a threat: fight, flight or freeze. Anxiety is associated with the flight or freeze response, while anger is related to the fight response. When you feel threatened, your response is more likely to be a fight if you feel uncertain. Anger is a natural and genuine emotion that should never be dismissed, and you should not be told to stop feeling angry. Instead, it needs to be accepted and acknowledged, and you can learn how to manage your anger positively. Learning your early warning signs can be very helpful, though it may be easier said than done, especially with younger people.
A conditioned emotional response
Generally, stress is often accompanied by feeling overwhelmed, disrespected, unhelpful, fearful, etc. It is crucial to recognise these emotions to identify the stressors in your environment, such as your home, workplace, or school. Once you have identified the trigger, you can find ways to minimise or eliminate the stress entirely. Yes, it is possible.
Whenever you experience a situation, your brain forms neural pathways of information that help you respond to similar situations in the future. However, this may also create a conditioned emotional response, such as fear or panic, leading to panic attacks and anxiety-related health complications. Anxiety is your body's response to stress and change.
It is more beneficial to find better ways to manage stress. Effectively controlling your stress can help you deal with burnout, fatigue, decreased energy, irritability, a sense of helplessness, sadness, anxiousness, anger, and aggression.
The Two A’s
Anxiety and Anger are the two A’s. While they may seem unrelated, they are connected. Let's first take a closer look at each of these emotions.
Anxiety is a complex concept that includes various conditions and can significantly impact one's quality of life. It can manifest in different ways, and in many cases, it can even cause physical reactions in our bodies. The reason why anxiety affects us in this way relates to how our brains work.
Our brains have specific regions that control our memories, emotions, and responses. When we encounter an event, it triggers an emotion that leads to a reaction. Sometimes, our brains can trick us into thinking we are in danger.
In ancient times, when people faced a threat like a sabre-tooth tiger, their brains would tell them to run, fight, or freeze. Today, even though we don't face such threats, our brains can still respond similarly, leading us to believe we are in danger and prompting us to react accordingly. Our brains do not distinguish the different types of threats.
Fight, Flight or freeze
Questions and Answers
How to fight the mental fight
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Bad Behaviour
There's always a reason behind bad behaviour, and it's usually not easily identifiable.
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Neurodiversity
Every person’s unique abilities will differ from one another, as no one person is the same.
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When it feels too much
Take small steps one day at a time and accept that some days will be better than others.
