Some anxiety is perfectly normal. It is a heightened sense of self-consciousness and a natural response to situations that cause fear or nervousness. Typical things that cause anxiety might include:
- Public speaking
- A first date
- Starting a new job
- Participating in an interview
- Being in the spotlight
These anxiety-producing events trigger mental and physical symptoms and increase hormones in the body that kick into gear during intense moments. That’s totally normal. Generally speaking, short-term bouts of anxiety coming from uncomfortable events is typical and nothing to be alarmed about. But what happens when the sensation of anxiety starts to occur frequently?
Did you know? Anxiety can be a form of weariness. Being worn out physically, mentally, or spiritually can lead to worry – which can manifest into anxieties.
One or two uncomfortable events can cause temporary anxiety that goes away when the triggering activity is over. As the adrenaline leaves the body, the heightened sense of worry or fear diminishes too. That’s what’s supposed to happen. Anxiety can morph from occasional to frequent when you fail to limit the uncomfortable or worrisome activities or experiences. If left unchecked, the feeling of anxiety can become typical and you can get stuck feeling anxious more often than you’d like.
Our bodies need rest. Not getting enough rest can increase the frequency of anxiety. Being tired zaps energy that ordinarily would be used to manage stress, solve problems, make better decisions, and take better actions. The domino effect of being tired, being worried, and living in a state of anxiety is no joke and can happen to anyone – regardless of their best intentions.
Being exposed to worrisome or anxiety-triggering actives can have a positive effect. Speaking in front of a crowd can cause anxiety but doing so repeatedly over time can normalize the activity and make it less stressful. The problem lies when you are overwhelmed by the frequency and intensity of anxiety-triggering events and/or are worn out to the point that you don’t have the coping skills to bounce back like you might under better circumstances.
If you find that you are experiencing anxiety when you used to be able to manage or cope with things, it might mean that you are weary and need rest. Being too tired not only compromises our immunities and makes us weaker physically, it makes us weaker emotionally too. That’s when anxiety can set in. The sooner you get a handle on your rest and rejuvenation, the easier you can reduce anxiety and feel your best.
