The Truth About Anxiety - It's Not a Feeling

“To me, anxiety is not a feeling. It's the experience of wanting to run away from a feeling.”

- Dr Becky Kennedy.

Anxiety is often understood as simply a feeling of unease, worry, or fear. However, its true nature is more subtle. Anxiety isn't just a feeling; it's a desperate desire to escape from uncomfortable emotional states that our subconscious mind perceives as threatening. It serves as a shield, protecting us from confronting underlying emotions like shame, sadness, anger, or vulnerability.

Resisting Emotions

Our societal conditioning often teaches us to resist or suppress difficult emotions. From childhood, we may learn to hide, deny, or numb our feelings to avoid discomfort or rejection. This resistance creates a cycle of anxiety, as we strive to avoid the very emotions we need to confront.

The Power of Self-Compassion

Self-compassion is key to breaking this cycle. By acknowledging and accepting our emotions, we can begin to dismantle anxiety's grip. When we approach our feelings with kindness and understanding, we reduce emotional intensity, develop greater self-awareness and increase resilience.

The Willingness to Feel

Simply allowing ourselves to feel our emotions can be transformative. This willingness dissolves resistance and avoidance, fosters emotional regulation, and - perhaps most importantly - allows authentic self-expression.

Reclaiming Emotional Freedom

By embracing our emotions, rather than resisting them, we can reclaim our emotional freedom. Anxiety no longer controls us; we face our feelings with courage and equanimity.

Take the First Step

Acknowledge your anxiety as an invitation to explore underlying emotions. Practice self-compassion and simply giving yourself permission to feel your feelings, especially the painful ones. Instead of fearing them and resisting them, open yourself up to them with curiosity and compassion.

The grip of anxiety will loosen and you'll discover a more authentic, open and emotionally resilient you.