Differentiating between Normal and Troublesome Anxiety Anxiety
is a normal and, in fact, helpful emotion. Everyone experiences
it sometimes. At the right level anxiety can help you to focus
and perform well. But it can become a problem if it persists
beyond its usefulness in a situation. Remember the following
points about anxiety: Anxiety is a normal process that everyone
experiences, but it can cause problems when it persists or
becomes excessive. Anxiety causes body sensations such as faster
breath, an increase in heart rate, sweating, and feelings of
dizziness, among many others. Bodily sensations caused by
anxiety can’t harm you. Anxiety can lead to you overestimating
the risk of danger and underestimating your ability to cope.
Things that you might do because you think they keep you safe
(safety behaviours) sometimes make your anxiety worse. Cognitive
behavioural therapy can help reduce your anxiety by helping you
re-evaluate your thoughts and changing your behaviour. In its
most troublesome forms, anxi