Trauma and EMDR Therapy for Anxiety

Feeling nervous, worried, or anxious is a natural part of life. We all experience moments of tension and worry, especially during challenging or uncertain times. However, if you find yourself feeling tense, anxious, or nervous frequently or even most of the time, this may indicate an anxiety disorder.

 

What Causes Anxiety? Your Body’s Natural Survival Response

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Anxiety is essentially our body’s built-in survival system kicking in to respond to a perceived threat, whether real or imagined. Whenever you feel anxious, your brain and body are reacting as if there is a potential danger. Sometimes, this reaction is entirely appropriate. For example, if a tiger suddenly appeared in front of you, you’d likely feel a surge of anxiety, triggering the “fight, flight, or freeze” response. Imagine if we felt totally calm and grounded when a tiger jumped out in front of us and prepared for attack? Hello, natural selection. This reaction helps our body respond quickly and efficiently to escape dangerous situations, which is a healthy, natural function of your survival system.

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However, anxiety becomes problematic when this response activates in situations where there is no real threat. For instance, if you have the tiger reaction while ordering coffee at the McDonald's drive-through, your body is responding as if you’re in danger—even though, in reality, the situation is safe (unless, of course, the barista is unusually intimidating). When your body frequently reacts with anxiety in non-threatening situations, it can be a sign of an anxiety disorder.

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People with anxiety disorders may experience a variety of symptoms, including:

• Difficulties controlling worry and overthinking: You may feel trapped in a cycle of constant worry, finding it hard to quiet your mind, even about small issues.

• Catastrophizing or going to the ‘worst-case scenario’: Your thoughts may often jump to the worst possible outcome, even if it’s unlikely, creating a sense of doom.

• Anxiety in non-threatening situations: You may feel tense, nervous, or fearful even in safe situations, where no real threat to your physical or emotional safety exists.

• Physical symptoms of anxiety: Anxiety can often manifest physically, with symptoms such as sweating, a racing heart, trembling, or stomach upset.

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The Link Between Anxiety and Past Traumatic Experiences

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In many cases, anxiety can be traced back to past experiences where your survival response was appropriate and necessary. This response can persist, even when the original threat no longer exists. For instance, if you once worked under a highly critical and hostile manager, you may have developed a habit of feeling anxious in that environment. Now, even if you’re working for a supportive and kind manager, you may still feel the same anxiety because your brain and body have become conditioned to associate the work environment with a threat.

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This is an example of how unresolved traumatic experiences can influence your current reactions, leading to anxiety in situations where it no longer serves a purpose. Therapy can help you unpack these connections, providing strategies to re-train your brain and body to accurately recognize current safety.

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