Anxiety is not a mental illness! It is a behavioural 'condition' which results from a re-setting of the benchmark anxiety level.
Anxiety is the appropriate nervous sensation which manifests when danger is present. However, inappropriate anxiety in the form of anxiety disorder is an intrusive, frustrating and sometimes frightening condition which causes sufferers to feel constantly frightened, even when there is nothing present to be frightened of.
The symptoms and physical sensations which accompany anxiety can be frightening and may also produce levels of anxiety which may cause the development of other anxiety conditions such as panic attacks (anxiety attacks) or phobias.
The anxiety response developed very near the beginning of human evolution. Originally, the anxiety response, which is controlled by the autonomic nervous system (the subconscious mind) was the 'alarm system' which warned us and prepared us for dangerous situations.
When anxiety provoking situations arise, the body produces the anxiety reaction which 'fires' a number of key bodily systems to prepare us to either stand and fight or flee from that danger. This is called the 'flight or fight' response. Adrenalin is the hormone which produces this response.
As the anxiety reaction builds, a number of physical sensations become apparent. Shaking, racing heart, breathlessness and dizziness are the most common, but a full list of anxiety symptoms is much longer.
It must be made clear that regardless of how intense these anxiety symptoms feel, they are completely harmless and are actually intended for self-preservation.
Once the anxiety has the opportunity to cause the sufferer to fear it, it establishes itself as a 'normal' reaction. So, you experience anxiety, the anxiety level is artificially raised, you become scared, that anxiety causes more fear, this causes anxiety etc. As this cycle builds, the brain accepts this new, higher level of anxiety as 'normal' and the sufferer experiences regular or constant high levels of anxiety.
This process is called 'Operant Conditioning' - learning through repetition.
As the anxiety level rises, the symptoms become more apparent and the sufferer becomes more distressed. Remember, however, that high levels of anxiety are completely normal but when anxiety is not appropriate, for example when asleep or resting, it is most distressing for the sufferer (not to mention confusing.) You know consciously that the anxiety you are experiencing is inappropriate, but your fear grows anyway.
By reversing the process that was followed to develop this high level of anxiety, you can simply and quickly eliminate the inappropiate anxiety... it makes so much sense.
