Anxiety and bi-polar?

Anxiety can be understood as the emotional and physical consequences of believing that a threat is present or likely. It can be very useful when it motivates us to get out of danger, resolve issues or address what is important.

Sometimes, people can begin to feel anxious in situations that they have not previously found threatening. They may begin to avoid these situations or, when the anxiety provoking situations are unavoidable, develop ways of feeling safe. While avoidance and safety behaviours alleviate the anxiety they often bring with them other problems, such as isolation and constricted lives. A further complication is that when a threat is avoided or made safe we do not find out if we were really in danger.

If anxiety is the result of thinking that there is a threat, it can be addressed by identifying when it happens, what thoughts prompt it and what evidence supports the thought.

For example: When I am with people that I do not know I think that they will not like me. This, I believe, is because nobody likes me. The evidence that supports this thought is that Tom’s friend didn’t like me.

Then: Consider an alternative explanation, such as, maybe some people do like me. This, I could believe, is because I am OK. The evidence that supports this thought is that Lisa, Fred and Claus all like me. I value their opinions. Other people like me too.

Remember, just because I think something it does not mean that it is necessarily true. Looking at the evidence is often the best way to determine the truth of a thought. Sometimes people begin to feel anxious about feeling anxious. This can become so uncomfortable that people panic. It is worth remembering that anxiety and panic do not kill people. They can make people feel awful though.

A clue that anxiety is not helpful is when the feeling of fear is greater than could be reasonably expected in the situation in which it occurs. A way to begin addressing anxiety would be to start to face the anxiety provoking situations in a sustained way. Begin with something relatively small. When progress is made build upon it. When things seem hard, be hopeful as many people feel anxious and most manage to feel better.