Brazilian Anxiety Reveals 7 Key Life Lessons

The philosopher Soren Kierkegaard once described anxiety as “the dizziness of freedom.” A person with a lifelong relationship with anxiety has shared what the condition has taught them, while making clear this is not an endorsement of anxiety or a discussion of toxic positivity.

The individual recounts that their anxiety became noticeable in childhood during the 1980s. A specific memory involves a game of tackle football where another child’s pants were pulled down, causing embarrassment. The fear of this happening led to physically tying their pants too tight and feeling sick before daily activities. At the time, mental health was not discussed openly, and the symptoms were not recognized as anxiety.

In recent years, the anxiety has become more pronounced, possibly worsening after bouts of COVID-19 in 2020 and 2021. This has led to a more mindful approach to dealing with it. Through this experience, seven lessons have been identified.

The first lesson is that anxiety teaches presence. The intense focus required during high anxiety roots a person in the current moment, allowing them to observe physiological sensations separately from the emotional suffering created by the mind’s interpretation.

Second, anxiety provides a lesson in control. It highlights the difference between what a person can and cannot control, emphasizing that while the causes of anxiety may be uncontrollable, the response to them is not. It also directs focus toward concepts larger than oneself.

Third, anxiety reinforces the need for good habits and boundaries. When feeling well, habits can slip and unhealthy people may be allowed closer. Anxiety serves as a reminder of the consequences of this, prompting a “cleaning house” of unhealthy elements when it spikes.

The fourth lesson is that anxiety underscores the importance of growth. After addressing unhealthy patterns, anxiety can prompt the pursuit of new projects and positive changes. For the individual, this led to shifting from counseling to life coaching and improving diet and exercise.

Fifth, anxiety taught the value of gentleness. Experiencing personal fragility during anxious periods fostered a greater understanding of how blunt communication might affect others, leading to more careful interaction.

Sixth, anxiety instructs a person to slow down and ask for help. It was learned that making quick decisions during an anxiety spike often leads to poor outcomes. The better approach is to be intentional and discuss decisions with others.

The seventh and final lesson is that anxiety can help speed up action. For certain anxiety-provoking tasks, such as necessary phone calls, taking immediate action serves as an antidote, preventing procrastination that would prolong the uncomfortable feeling.

Dealing with chronic anxiety remains an ongoing challenge. The process of managing it has led to specific personal insights about presence, control, personal boundaries, growth, gentleness, decision-making, and taking action. These lessons are shared from personal experience with a condition that many others also navigate.