05. Intro

In my experience as a therapist specializing in anxiety, I’ve encountered opinions suggesting that I tend to simplify the complex nature of anxiety disorders, portraying them as merely unpleasant emotions. Critics argue that anxiety disorders encompass a broad spectrum of physiological, cognitive, and behavioral components. However, the essence of why we find anxiety troublesome lies in its unpleasant nature. If anxiety weren’t distressing, we wouldn’t feel compelled to seek medical advice. Why would we?

Anxiety transforms into a disorder not merely due to our daily negative thoughts or challenges, but primarily when the fear and dread of experiencing irrational anxiety overwhelm us. This fear leads to a cycle of negative thinking that hampers our ability to function in daily life. Moreover, the dread of encountering anxiety again triggers numerous distressing symptoms associated with anxiety.

This observation doesn’t undermine the severity of irrational anxiety, on the contrary, it acknowledges it as a significant issue. The core problem, however, is the discomfort it causes. While anxiety has other dimensions apart from its discomfort, these aspects are relatively minor in comparison.

The absence of discomfort would mean we wouldn’t dwell on anxiety, as there would be no distressing symptoms to concern us.

Furthermore, the fear stems not only from the discomfort but also from the uncertainty and unpredictability associated with anxiety. The unpredictability of when or where anxiety might strike, coupled with the lack of control over it, can be terrifying.

It’s worth mentioning that some individuals may be naturally inclined towards worry or obsessive thinking, contributing to excessive worrying. Nevertheless, the significant role of the unpleasantness of anxiety experiences in fostering excessive worry cannot be overstated. Individuals tend to either avoid or brace themselves for potential future episodes of anxiety, driven by the desire to escape or mitigate its discomfort.