Anxiety is your body’s natural response to perceived threats or dangers. In reality, your anxiety is lying to you through distorted thought patterns that can significantly affect your daily life.
When experiencing anxiety, day-to-day life feels complicated and unpredictable. It is expected that your experiences shape your worldview and that your anxiety symptoms can blur reality. This blurred reality creates a worldview that is not true, even if it feels that way.
In this post, we’ll discuss how common anxiety is and how it can affect your life, confront the 6 most common lies anxiety tells us, and 4 ways for you to work through your anxious thoughts.
Psychological statistics and research
The prevalence of anxiety
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., affecting 40 million adults in the United States age 18 and older, or 18.1% of the population every year. This debunks the myth that anxiety is a personal failing— it is a widespread human experience.
The ripple effect
Anxiety ripples through your personal and professional life, affecting your decision-making, relationships, and satisfaction. Depression often accompanies anxiety, forming a tag team that saps your joy and resilience.
The good news is that anxiety disorders are highly treatable, yet only 36.9% of those suffering receive treatment.
4 ways your anxiety is lying to you
Fear of failure
Anxiety makes you believe that your worst fears will come true, even if highly unlikely. This fear of failure can cripple you and prevent you from taking risks, trying new things, or pursuing your dreams. Failure is a natural part of the learning process and does not define your worth.
Catastrophizing
Anxious thoughts often involve catastrophizing or blowing things out of proportion. You start to imagine worst-case scenarios and convince yourself that those outcomes are inevitable. This can lead to irrational decisions and behaviors that do not align with reality.
Black-and-white thinking
Anxiety also leads you into black-and-white thinking, where everything is either perfect or a complete disaster. This type of thinking ignores the gray areas of life and can prevent you from finding solutions to your problems. In reality, most situations are not all good or all bad, and there is always room for improvement.
Self-doubt
Anxiety tells you that you are not good enough, smart enough, or capable enough to handle a situation. This self-doubt can hold you back from reaching your full potential and lead to feelings of worthlessness. In reality, you are capable of growth and learning, and your anxiety does not define you.
Perfectionism
Anxiety often convinces you that you need to be perfect to succeed and be accepted. This perfectionist mindset can lead to constant self-criticism and unrealistic expectations, creating a never-ending cycle of anxiety. In reality, no one is perfect, and it is essential to embrace your imperfections and learn from your mistakes.
Social anxiety
Anxiety can also manifest itself in social situations, making you believe that everyone is constantly judging and critiquing you. This can lead to avoidance of social interactions and feelings of isolation. In reality, most people are too focused on their lives to pay much attention to others.
How to overcome anxiety symptoms
Self-reflection
Journal your thoughts, feelings, and the situations that trigger your anxiety. Self-awareness is a formidable weapon in the fight against anxious thinking. Reflecting on these entries can reveal patterns and offer insights into the underlying causes of your anxiety.
Seek professional help
You wouldn’t perform surgery on yourself, so why tackle the complexities of anxiety without professional guidance? A Makin Wellness therapist can help you identify and challenge the distorted thought patterns created by your anxiety. Your therapist can also provide tools and techniques to manage your symptoms and improve your mental health.
Build a support network
Anxiety thrives in solitude. A support network helps to alleviate feelings of isolation and helps ease anxious symptoms. Friends, family, or support groups provide external perspectives and comfort. They anchor you to reality when your anxious thoughts try to take you away from the truth.
Engage in self-care
Engage in activities that bring you joy and relaxation, making self-care a non-negotiable priority in your routine. Making self-care part of your routine can reduce stress levels and increase your stress threshold. This helps you to endure stress while feeling less overwhelmed. If you need help creating a self-care routine, we have a 7-step guide to creating one that works for you.
Conclusion
Anxiety often blurs the line between truth and fiction. By knowing that anxiety can affect your worldview, you are empowered to stop harmful thoughts and adjust your thinking patterns to more healthy beliefs.
Through understanding, professional support, and self-love, you can unmask the lies of anxiety and find clarity in the world around you. The path to peace may not be linear. Each step forward is momentum toward a healthy thoughts and mindset.
Are you ready to work through your anxious thoughts? Call us at (833)-274-heal or schedule an appointment with a therapist who specializes in anxiety disorders. Once paired with a therapist, they will develop a personalized plan to help you overcome your anxious mind, learn healthy thought patterns, and much more.
If you are ready for anxiety to stop running your life, make an appointment with Makin Wellness today.
