You know that you worry a lot. In fact, you’ve even joked to yourself or to others how you’re a “worry wart.”
All joking aside, though, constant worrying is actually a real problem.
It’s called anxious anticipation.
And it can really take a toll on your life because you spend a lot—if not all—of your time worrying about what ifs. This makes it impossible for you to have the kind of life you want.
Instead of enjoying it, you are stuck in your anxiety.
If that sounds like you, there is hope for coping with anxious anticipation by understanding how it wrecks your life.
What Is Anxious Anticipation?
Anxious anticipation is when you have thoughts that bring on intense feelings of worry and even fear. You become frozen with worrying about what ifs that may occur in the future.
Note the keywords: “may occur.”
The truth is that you don’t actually know whether what you are worrying about will actually happen. This is the tragic part of anxious anticipation, as you spend a lot of time and energy wrapped up in anxiety about something that most likely won’t ever happen.
Worrying About “What Ifs” – The Double-Edge Sword
The ironic thing about anxious anticipation is that it takes an important part of what makes us human and turns it against us.
One of the special things about us humans is that anticipating the future is a very important skill. It allows us to plan, to build, and to create. We also have the capacity to see into the future and consider several different possible outcomes. This makes it possible for us to avoid potentially dangerous situations.
Yet, when anxious anticipation takes over, it takes this skill and makes it our worst enemy.
What Happens When You Experience Anxious Anticipation?
The symptoms of anxious anticipation are much like any other form of anxiety. When it comes on, you sense that your thoughts are racing. You begin to notice sweat on your brow, and you feel as if your heart is about to leap out of your chest.
This happens because you are focusing on what you believe is a very real danger. So, of course, you are going to react that way. It’s how humans usually respond when they think there’s a threat.
Over time, though, these symptoms can get worse and lead to:
- Dizziness
- Shortness of breath
- Feeling “numb”
What’s really unnerving is that the more you experience these symptoms over time the more powerless you feel. It’s like you’ve lost all control, and you just don’t know what to do.
Unconscious Anxious Anticipation
Some people don’t even realize that the constant worrying about what ifs is abnormal. It’s just something they do and accept as how life should be.
But living your life this way—under constant fear—is incredibly difficult. You always feel on-edge, and the tension you are feeling slowly creeps into all areas of your life.
Think about it for a moment. Have you ever been in a situation where you lashed out for no reason at a friend or loved one? Or, has the constant anxiety from this worrying affected your ability to work or form friendships?
It Doesn’t Have to Be This Way
The constant worry and fear you feel don’t have to last forever. In fact, there are ways to alleviate worrying about what ifs. And you don’t have to do it alone.
The key to beating these worries is to find a therapist who understands the situation. Together, you can walk through the process of understanding why you have this fear and anxiety. With their help, you will also be able to learn how to cope with your worries so that they have less of an impact on your life.
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Sure, we all worry about what ifs from time-to-time. However, if you are noticing that this form of anxiety is really affecting your life, it’s time to get help. Start with informing yourself about the anxiety treatments I offer by clicking HERE.
