21. The fear of experiencing anxiety again.

The fear of experiencing anxiety again.

becomes a foundational cause for all subsequent irrational anxiety after the initial encounter with its unpleasantness. This fear is rooted in the very first experiences of irrational anxiety, which evoke strong feelings of distress and discomfort, mistaken for signs of illness. This fear then drives the focus towards avoiding anxiety at all costs, stemming from the dread of facing those feelings again.

Unfortunately, this pivotal moment of fear formation often goes unaddressed in medical settings. Instead of immediate intervention to dispel this fear, individuals are frequently diagnosed and prescribed medication, setting them on a long path of dealing with irrational anxiety without truly addressing its root cause. The cycle of anxiety paradoxes begins here, as the fear of anxiety itself fuels all future irrational anxiety, perpetuating a cycle of avoidance, medication, and continued suffering without a clear end in sight.

This pattern highlights a critical oversight in our approach to anxiety treatment. By focusing primarily on symptoms and their suppression, we miss the opportunity to address and dismantle the fear of anxiety at its inception. This oversight underscores the necessity for a shift in how we perceive and approach anxiety, recognizing it as a natural emotional response rather than immediately categorizing it as a disorder requiring medication.