A Busy Sped up Mind combined with Feelings of Fear=Anxiety
Having a busy, sped up mind combined with feelings of fear can often lead to the development of anxiety.
When our thoughts are racing and we are constantly worrying about what could go wrong, it is no doubt overwhelming and exhausting. We are thinking feeling beings, we feel our thoughts.
Have you ever stopped to consider what creates any feeling?
I always pose this question to my new coaching clients during our initial session, and without fail, the responses tend to veer towards blaming external factors or engaging in a bit of complaining. What if we were to take a step back and consider a more simplistic perspective? What if, instead of attributing our feelings to outside influences, we were to recognize the incredible power of our own brilliant brains at work?
Our brain is constantly processing information, interpreting situations, and generating emotions in response to our nervous system. It's truly remarkable to think about the intricate workings of our brains and how they play a significant role in shaping our feelings.
Having a feeling of joy? Look closer at your thoughts, stories and what your mind is making up about that moment in time. It's not the house you're in that's making you happy, the people you're with, it's purely what you're thinking and believing in that moment.
Having anxious thoughts? Look closer at your thoughts, stories, and what your mind is making up about that moment in time. It's not the house you're in that's making you feel anxious, or the people you're with, it's purely what you're thinking and believing in that moment. I know it looks real, for some it's familiar and that's what's hard to break free from is familiarity. Some people stay "anxious" because it's certain and familiar, sure it's uncomfortable but the notion of experiencing a different feeling seems frightening. That's why having someone helping you move forward, not backwards, is so vital.
I do like to get more granular with clients who use the term or describe the state of "anxiety." I ask them to articulate what it means in greater detail. Anxiety is a very overused umbrella term that, as a result of being so vague, can be hard to understand and move through without more information.
An anxious experience that many people face (seems everyone has some level of it since COVID), is a normal part of being human. It's a natural response to stress and uncertainty, but it doesn't have to control us. A sped up busy mind mixed with fear is in general what creates the natural response.
This state of heightened alertness will make it difficult to focus, relax, make decisions or even sleep. By addressing the root causes of our anxiety and learning to navigate our thoughts and emotions, we can find relief and regain a sense of calm and control in our lives.
Thinking and believing that it's outside of us creates more fear and more sped-up thoughts.