Anxiety Isn’t a Flaw — It’s a Feature of Being Human

If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Why do I have anxiety?” or “How can I get rid of my anxiety?”, you’re not alone. Constant anxiety is one of the most common mental health experiences worldwide. It’s a difficulty experienced by many that I encounter frequently in therapy. But here’s the truth: anxiety is not something we can completely eliminate—and that's not necessarily a bad thing.

Anxiety plays a crucial role in our survival system. It evolved to keep us alert in the face of danger, motivate us to prepare for important events and push us to be our best selves. In short, anxiety has a purpose. However, in our fast-paced world, it can become overwhelming.

The Pressure We Face

We live with immense pressure. We strive to be perfect parents, partners, employees, keeping our house clean, working hard to earn enough to live, exercising, eating right, maintaining mental health, having hobbies, and looking good—having so many demands activates our threat system. We were not build to be so busy we don't or feel unable to rest. It’s exhausting just to think about it isn't it!

All this pressure can make us ignore our feelings. Being with our feelings takes time and effort and we don't have time for that! So, we push them down but they don’t just disappear; they lie in wait for the next stressor. Our nervous system becomes overwhelmed, leading to chronic anxiety. We either push through feeling utterly drained or shut down and turn to self destructive coping mechanisms like alcohol or drugs.

The Problem Isn’t Anxiety—It’s When It Becomes Overwhelming

While some anxiety is normal and even helpful, chronic anxiety, Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Social Anxiety, Burnout, and Stress can disrupt daily life. If your anxiety feels constant or affects your sleep, relationships, or work, it needs attention. Now. Not later!

The goal isn’t to erase anxiety altogether. Instead, we should learn coping strategies. Techniques like mental health therapy, mindfulness, movement, and breathing exercises can help. Sometimes medication is necessary too. Understanding the root of your anxiety is the first step to coping better. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) can be very useful in this regard. In my sessions, we explore what contributes to your anxiety, what maintains it, and how to alter these patterns not just giving you a coping tool.

Anxiety as a Messenger, Not an Enemy

What if we viewed anxiety as a message from our body rather than something to be destroyed? Often, anxiety signals something important: “I feel uncertain,” “I need reassurance,” or “Something doesn’t feel safe.”

Although anxiety isn’t always accurate, it shouldn’t be ignored. Responding compassionately to these feelings allows us to create room for healing. Our anxiety can come from our past; unresolved issues may leave us with coping mechanisms that are no longer effective. These strategies might have once worked but no longer serve us to the same degree.

Coping with Anxiety Looks Different for Everyone

There’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Here are a few evidence-based ways to manage anxiety:

• Being out in nature — My number one coping mechanism for anxiety.

• Mindfulness and meditation — These can ground you in the present.

• Breathwork — When done right, it can be a game changer for anxiety management.

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) — Helps analyse anxious thoughts and beliefs, revealing unhelpful coping strategies.

• Journaling or self-monitoring — Useful for expressing feelings and tracking triggers.

• Movement and exercise — These can effectively reduce stress hormones.

• Healthy sleep and nutrition — Essential for supporting your nervous system.

• Support networks — Remember, you’re not alone in this.

• Rest — We often overlook this one. Rest is vital for both our body and mind, and living too productively can actually increase anxiety.

  
  

These coping mechanisms are essential for managing anxiety effectively. However, if you are using them to suppress, avoid, or numb your feelings, they may not be effective. I’ve seen it happen many times in therapy: clients try everything without success because they aim to escape anxiety rather than lean into it.

Reframing Your Relationship with Anxiety

To change your outcome, you need to shift your relationship with anxiety. This means striving to live in alignment with your values, building confidence, and reducing feelings of being overwhelmed.

You Don’t Need to Be Anxiety-Free to Live Fully

This is crucial: you don’t have to be completely free from anxiety to lead a fulfilling life. You remain capable, worthy, and resilient—even if anxiety pops up from time to time.

Many people lead meaningful lives with anxiety. It doesn’t define you; it’s merely one facet of your human experience.

Final Thoughts: Embrace, Don’t Erase

Instead of asking, “How do I get rid of anxiety?”, consider asking, “How can I better understand and support myself?” Shifting your mindset can reduce shame and open doors to compassion, making it easier to cope with life’s demands.

So no—you’re not broken. You’re beautifully human. It’s important to recognize that we all come with our complexities.

Want to find out how anxiety can be managed in a way that’s tailored to you and your difficulties? Please get in touch via the website or email me at: yourbodyandmind1@outlook.com