Anxiety as a Systemic Concept

Not all of us have suffered a psychotic episode or been addicted to drugs and alcohol but we all recognize anxiety. Anxiety is being frightened; making concentration difficult, producing a sense of restlessness and dread and physical symptoms including a rapid heartbeat, numbness, nausea, difficulty concentrating, trembling or shaking and avoidance of the scary situation. Normally we can explain our reaction as we face a situation that quite reasonably scares us. For a child it may be starting a new school year, speaking to the class or sitting an exam. As adults we find ourselves anxious as we ask our boss for a raise, confront our partner about unacceptable behaviour or present at an important meeting. Usually, once the situation has passed, we can return to our normal state and the symptoms recede. 

Others are less fortunate, and the feeling of dread may continue despite the outside world appearing calm. Anxiety has been categorized in a number of ways including generalized anxiety disorder with  excessive worry about family, health and work,  panic disorder where the person is overwhelmed with fear, obsessive compulsive disorder where life is ruled by repetitive thoughts and rituals, social anxiety which prevents ordinary interaction for fear of criticism and specific fears of objects or activities. 

It is too easy to demonize anxiety and view it as a ‘bad thing’ which is understandable if you are suffering its overzealous presence in your life. However, without anxiety we would probably all be dead or at least wounded either physically or emotionally. 

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