Is My Anxiety Pathological? Understanding Anxiety In Times Of COVID-19
During these months, there has been a lot of talk about the various effects that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on our mental health. calling it “the other pandemic.”
It is observed, to a large extent, that the population is reaching very high levels of fear and anguish, which has acted as a trigger for symptoms of different kinds, the most common of all being anxiety. That the current situation has caused us a reaction of this caliber is logical and normal.
Given the pandemic, is the anxiety I suffer something pathological?
The word “anxiety” is increasingly used, both in clinical language and in popular language, sometimes being used as an interchangeable synonym for “fear.”
For this reason, it is convenient to clarify some differences between these terms: both translate into feeling insecure, but Fear is oriented to the present, it is an automatic, biological and adaptive defense reaction. , when faced with the perception of danger (fear can be rational or irrational). It is of high intensity, of negative affect and lasts as long as the dangerous situation lasts.
On the other hand, anxiety is oriented toward the future ; That is, it is the ability to anticipate an event that may be harmful to us. This function can be adaptive when the intensity and frequency of the symptoms adapt to the dangerousness of the feared event, and allows us to anticipate and act.
However, when the anxious reaction is disproportionate, when identifying its cause is not easy, and When the person who presents these symptoms feels very limited by them, we could say that, far from fulfilling a useful function, it may be a clinical problem. that requires professional help.
At first, in the face of the pandemic, the majority of society reacted with logical fear: fear of the virus, fear of getting sick, and fear of family and friends getting sick. Therefore, we adapted to the restrictions, and the behavior of the vast majority was aimed at minimizing risks, so that little by little, the crisis became something more controllable.
But As we got used to living with the new situation, new threats appeared. : fear of not finding a job or of losing it if you already have one, fear of losing quality of life, fear of not being able to meet expenses, fear of loneliness, of feeling limited when it comes to accessing rewarding activities…
This is where delineating the line between what is clinical and what is not becomes somewhat complicated. It is important that we ask ourselves a series of questions to situate ourselves: is my anxiety related to something that I can identify? Does the magnitude of my discomfort match the stimulus that causes me insecurity and its probability of occurrence? Is my anxiety guiding me to action or preventing me from taking control of my life? Has it become uncontrollable for me?
How does anxiety manifest?
Anxiety is not a unitary phenomenon, but rather manifests itself through three components. ; This is known as the triple response system.
It refers to internal experience, taking into account individual differences when perceiving and evaluating the states associated with anxiety. In this component we also find a series of irrational thoughts that not only facilitate the appearance of anxiety, but also maintain it.
physiological component
Experiencing anxiety is often accompanied by somatic symptoms that are due to an activation of the autonomic nervous system. These symptoms can be: sweating, trembling, increased muscle tension, heart acceleration, dry mouth, accelerated breathing… How the person interprets these symptoms contributes to consolidating the subjective state of anxiety.
Behavioral component
Anxiety normally pushes us to behave in an avoidant and avoidant way. It makes a lot of sense that we try to get away from what we perceive as harmful; But be careful, let’s keep in mind that, sometimes, we are perceiving things in an unrealistic way, and furthermore, if we get used to avoiding and letting ourselves be carried away by our anxiety, it will be difficult for us to overcome it.
In another order of things, clarify that anxiety also has an effect on our facial expression and body posture.
What consequences will having high levels of anxiety have on me?
It is possible that anxiety has already become disabling when you have problems concentrating and your sleeping and eating routines are altered (either due to excess or defect). It is very likely to have a feeling of constant worry that is perceived as inappropriate, intrusive thoughts, irritability and restlessness. It is also possible to perceive a feeling of mental heaviness that makes decision-making very difficult, as well as the appearance of excessively intense reactions to last-minute changes.
With this article we would like to help depathologize behaviors that are actually normal. We are going through a difficult time as a society and there is nothing pathological about reacting with anger, anxiety or sadness. Now, if these emotions are flooding us, it is completely essential to recognize the need to express them, accept them and transform them.
It is very possible that this situation has acted as a trigger, or as the straw that breaks the camel’s back for many people who, for one reason or another, have collapsed. Therefore, it is a good time to consider evaluating our behavior patterns, our thoughts and our emotional regulation strategies.
Finally, mention that, if you feel that this situation is being very difficult to handle lately, and you have identified with the article, you should know that this can be changed. Us, Introspect Psychology , we work every day to provide psychological support to people who are going through difficult times. Do not hesitate to contact us if you need it.
