Sometimes we feel like we need to avoid anxiety at all costs but the truth is that the right amount of anxiety can be a normal, healthy part of your life. Anxiety can help keep us safe, motivate us, and prepare us. Anxiety becomes a problem when it begins to impact our daily lives. 

• Safety - Anxiety is typically related to fear, so our anxiety can be useful to alert us to possible danger. When someone experiences heightened amounts of anxiety, then a person can view most situations as dangerous and are unable to determine a real threat.

• Motivation - Anxiety can help motivate or give us a push to complete tasks that may not always the most desirable. 

• Preparation - Anxiety helps prepare us to study for an important test or prepare for an important work presentation. Anxiety can be helpful in these situations as we can prepare ourselves for possible roadblocks. 

So next time you’re experiencing anxiety, determine what purpose it is serving. Ask yourself, is the anxiety I’m experiencing helpful or harmful to me in this situation? If your anxiety is helping you, then use it to your advantage! If you feel like your anxiety is harmful to you, then consider scheduling an appointment so we can discuss your concerns. 

Sources:

https://www.verywellmind.com/top-ways-anxiety-is-helpful-1393079