Lions, Tigers, and Fears...Oh My! What exactly is an Anxiety Disorder, and what is the difference between
situational anxiety, as in feeling nervous about a driving test, and chronic anxiety, symptoms that consistently disrupt everyday
functioning? Well, we all have some degree of anxiety in our lives due to the very nature of our culture and work environments,
but, like the angst-ridden Lion, many people suffer daily with gripping tension, sensations of doom and dread, and chronic
doubts about their ability to function as competent and productive human beings. Client's report they will go to radical
lengths to avoid symptoms of anxiety. These disturbing symptoms include: While these symptoms may be caused
by certain medical conditions, more often they do not have a medical origin, but are the result of ineffective patterns of
living. A wise person once said, "Fear hinders
us, it prevents full involvement with the experiences we are given...experiences that can move us forward in the understanding
of ourselves." When we live in fear, we stay stuck in a world we need to leave behind.
By Kate Heit, LPC, CH
Most of us are familiar with
the classic story of the Wizard of Oz ...a tale of fantasy, intrigue, and self discovery. In the journey we meet the Cowardly
Lion, a paradox of bravado, and fears. Poor Lion, he quakes, cries, and collapses at the mere thought of confronting fears,
whether they be embodied in little Toto, or the great OZ himself. In the real world, the fearful Lion would clearly be seen
as having panic attacks; or in clinical terminology, an Anxiety Disorder.
The Cowardly Lion's extreme responses reflect the behavior pattern of chronic anxiety sufferers. His
fears immobilized and chipped away at his self worth and his panic sent him on a frantic search for escape. The sensations
of panic felt by anxiety-prone sufferers can become so intense and overwhelming that they too search for a panacea to relieve
their symptoms, and are often seduced by alcohol or drugs. Other temporary solutions may include withdrawal from social activities
or feared environments, and/or inventing elaborate and ritualistic behaviors to trick their fears, i.e., checking their front
door exactly ten times before going to bed to ensure a safe nights sleep. Unfortunately, these efforts only perpetuate the
process and intensify whenever they feel extreme stress or are confronted with significant life changes.
If chronic anxiety is a
factor in your life, then here are a few tips to help you gain some control over your feelings. When confronted by your fear,
know that you have choices; a choice to take action based on a quick but impermanent fix, i.e., running away from your problem,
or a choice to collaborate with a trained mental health professional to develop long term solutions. If you choose the path
of courage, here are some steps to put you on that road to recovery:
