Nowadays, information regarding psychology, emotions and their management is increasingly accessible. For this reason, and to an increasing extent, more people are trying to listen to and observe their emotions more precisely and understand the meanings they may have. However, it is not always easy to understand everything we feel or experience, and this can result in doubts about our feelings.
Anxiety is a common and natural psychological state that all people experience at some point or in a life situation. In its simplest form, anxiety is a natural psychophysiological response to situations of stress or perceived danger. It is an emotion that helps us respond to maladaptive situations or situations that put us in danger. However, it is often intertwined with or even a consequence of other feelings, making it difficult to identify and understand.
In this article, we will explore what anxiety is and the different ways in which it manifests itself to understand exactly what it is. Furthermore, we will propose some feelings that can be confused with anxiety due to the similarity of their physiological effects or their basic nature.
To begin, it is important to clearly define what anxiety is; this is defined as a fundamental psychobiological state of human experience As we have already mentioned, with a purely physiological approach, it is a natural and automatic response of our body to situations of danger or perceived threat. This response, often known as “fight or flight,” has developed throughout human evolution as a risk survival mechanism. When we face a stressful or potentially dangerous situation, the body releases hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline, which increases our alertness in a feedback loop and prepares our body for a rapid response to these risks (whether real or not). .
And this is the root of most anxiety problems; when we experience anxiety when there is not really a stimulus that puts us at risk or when we generalize this response to everything that can be related to something that has put us in danger Anxiety can become a very intense and extended problem over time when we begin to have it present in our daily lives due to the generalization of its response to a multitude of stimuli and when, due to its effects, we avoid everything that may have to do with it. see with these. Anxiety manifests itself in many different ways. Some of the most common symptoms include:
In what situations does anxiety usually appear?
As we have already mentioned, anxiety can appear in a wide variety of situations and contexts. Understanding when and why anxiety appears is essential to be able to manage it effectively. Next, we are going to explore some of the situations in which anxiety usually appears:
1. Stress situations
Stress is one of the most common causes of anxiety Stressful situations in life, such as financial problems, personal conflicts, workload at work or school, and other challenges, can trigger the anxiety response. Constant pressure and lack of stress management can lead to chronic levels of anxiety.
2. Uncertainty
The anxiety tends to increase in situations of uncertainty, where we don’t know what to expect or how to deal with a problem. Lack of information or the inability to foresee the outcome of a situation can trigger feelings of insecurity and worry.
3. Important changes
Significant life changes, such as moving to a new place, changing jobs, starting a relationship, or ending a relationship, can cause anxiety. Adapting to new circumstances and the uncertainty associated with change can cause worry and nervousness.
4. Exposure to fears
Anxiety too can arise when we face situations that we fear or avoid This is known as specific anxiety disorder or phobia. Phobias can be about specific things, like spiders or airplanes, or about social situations, like public speaking. In such cases, anxiety is triggered when the feared situation is anticipated or faced.
In addition to the situations mentioned above, anxiety can also appear in response to everyday triggers, such as interpersonal conflicts, family problems, financial worries, and academic pressures. These factors can contribute to the accumulation of stress and anxiety in daily life.
Feelings that we can confuse with anxiety
As we have explained, anxiety is a complex and multifaceted emotion, which appears in a multitude of diverse situations and can be confusing due to its overlap with other feelings and its situational diversity. Below, we’ll explore some of the most common feelings that are often confused with anxiety, analyzing their distinguishing characteristics:
1. Worry
The key difference between worry and anxiety lies in the intensity and duration Worry is usually related to specific events and tends to go away once the situation is resolved. Anxiety, on the other hand, can be more overwhelming and persistent, and is often not limited to an identifiable cause. Additionally, anxiety can be accompanied by physical symptoms, such as palpitations or muscle tension, that typical worry does not cause.
2. Guilt
Anxiety can lead to excessive worry about making mistakes or hurting others, which can lead to feelings of guilt. However, guilt is more specific in its focus and relates directly to a past action. Anxiety, on the other hand, focuses on the future and the anticipation of negative events. It is important to learn to differentiate between healthy guilt, which can motivate us to correct our mistakes, and excessive guilt that becomes a source of anxiety.
3. Shame
shame is a feeling that is often confused with anxiety due to its uncomfortable and unpleasant nature Both emotions can cause similar physical symptoms, such as facial redness or sweating. The key to distinguishing between shame and anxiety is to understand their origin. Shame generally relates to the perception that we have failed or not met social expectations. Anxiety, on the other hand, can arise from a variety of sources, including worries about the future, irrational fears, or current stressful events.
Agitation is a state of physical and mental restlessness that can sometimes be confused with anxiety. Both can include symptoms such as restlessness, difficulty relaxing, and feeling nervous. The key difference is that agitation tends to be more physical and related to bodily restlessness, while anxiety often involves constant worry and anticipation of future events.
5. Sadness
Sadness is a common emotion that sometimes overlaps with anxiety Both emotions can cause a feeling of emotional and physical discomfort. However, the fundamental difference between sadness and anxiety is their focus. Sadness focuses on loss or disappointment, while anxiety focuses on worry about the future and anticipation of negative events.
6. Anger
Anger is another emotion that can sometimes be confused with anxiety, especially when anxiety manifests as a fight or flight response. Both feelings can lead to a similar physical reaction, such as an increased heart rate and muscle tension. The main difference is that anger generally arises in response to a perceived injustice or frustration, while anxiety is related to worry about future events or perceived threats.
Understanding and managing anxiety
Understanding that anxiety is a normal emotion and that we can learn the necessary strategies to manage it is essential to maintain emotional balance and mental well-being. Anxiety is normal, but it is also treatable. Learning to recognize it, understand its triggers and use effective strategies can make a big difference in your daily life. Don’t hesitate to seek help if you feel that anxiety is negatively affecting your quality of life.
However, it is important to recognize that we are not always able to autonomously manage all our emotions and feelings. Remember that you can always go to psychological therapy to treat with a specialist everything that worries you or limits you both in your social relationships and in the relationship you have with yourself and in the way you treat and take care of yourself.
