Whenever we experience anxiety, we are caught up with its physiological and emotional reactions, we are so overwhelmed with our feelings and behaviors that we are unable to see that anxiety always carries a message.
When we are going through mild or severe anxiety, it is difficult to see that anxiety can be beneficial and that it is giving a message. But, yes, anxiety is a messenger and it is giving a message.
In fact every emotion that we experience, both positive and negative carry messages. All emotions are messengers from our internal world (body, mind and subconscious).
Messages from different emotions:
Let me give you examples of different emotions and the most likely messages they bring.
ANGER: Anger means that your protection system is affected and maybe someone or something has crossed your physical or emotional boundary.
QUESTION TO ASK: What needs to be protected? What boundary needs to be established or restored?
SADNESS: Sadness means that you are experiencing a loss of some kind and something needs to be released.
QUESTION TO ASK: What must be released and what needs to be rejuvenated?
FEAR/ ANXIETY: Fear helps you pay attention to a physical or emotional threat (external or internal). This helps you assess whether there is really any danger and how bad it is. It also helps you harness energy to meet the threat.
QUESTION TO ASK: What is the threat and what are the actions I need to take to move out of fear & anxiety?
DISAPPOINTMENT: Disappointment reveals the gap we have between our beliefs, expectations and reality.
QUESTION TO ASK: What is the gap and how can I cross it?
FRUSTRATION: Frustration helps you identify that something is blocking you and that you need to look at a different perspective to identify the block.
QUESTION TO ASK: Where is the block? What can I do differently? Whom can I ask for assistance?
GUILT: Guilt signals that you have crossed your own boundaries of values or ethics.
QUESTION TO ASK: How can I get my needs met in a more productive way? Who can help me change this habit?
IRRITATION: Irritation tells you that you need more space.
QUESTION TO ASK: How can I create more emotional space for myself? How can I communicate my need for space?
The next time you have any kind of anxiety, just ask yourself, what is the message in this anxiety? Listen to your anxiety and take action.
I hope you are benefitting from this current series on anxiety. Do drop a comment if you are finding this helpful.