Most of us see anxiety as something unpleasant, that must be shoved aside, is not allowed, and certainly not helpful. It gets in the way of having a calm, peaceful life. It wreaks havoc on our schedules, not to mention our relationships. In some cases, anxiety makes us think we are unworthy of joy. It can rob us of hope, leading us down a dark path.
The possibility exists, however, that we can reframe anxiety and see it in a whole new light. Our body creates anxiety to get us to hit the pause button, pull out the magnifying glass, and zoom in to see what our bodies are trying to tell us. Specifically, what needs addressing? What needs confronting? What needs are we neglecting? Our lives would benefit from naming it so we can begin taming it.
When I’m driving in my car and my tire pressure gauge signal lights up on my dash, my first inclination is to groan and moan, probably making a comment like “Great, just what I need right now!” True. It is an unwelcome inconvenience. With that being said, the alert warns me to fill my tire in order to stay safe. I could decide to ignore it and keep driving. That option may expose me to a potentially dangerous situation like a blowout, damage to my rim, loss of maneuverability, or even an accident. The ripple effect of such possibilities trickles into affecting everyone around me, especially if I get hurt or worse. The alternative is to take the time to stop, heed the warning and fill the tire. Maybe I would benefit from seeing the warning light as helpful.
Almost everyone deals with some type of anxiety — even Jesus. When Jesus was on the Mount of Olives with the disciples, he pulled himself away to pray to God three separate times, uttering the words, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done. (Luke 22:42) Scripture describes him as “being in agony” about his impending crucifixion to the point that he was actually sweating drops of blood (a rare medical condition called hematidrosis), and example of the highest form of anxiety possible. He, being human, related to our fear and anxiety. And, he did what we do. We pray for relief and reach out to our loved ones and friends for help and to voice our innermost feelings. Matthew 26:37 tells us that he went to Peter, James, and John in great distress and trouble to confess, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with me.” Clearly, he was upset and didn’t want to be alone. We know how his story ends.
Could we, therefore, look at our anxiety as a blessing, something to be thankful for? It’s a warning that allows us to begin discerning how to identify what changes to make in our lives. We can use the anxiety to unveil past wounds and highlight the pain that would benefit from being healed. This process is not exactly welcome, just like the tire pressure warning light, but it does perhaps give us the opportunity to save ourselves from additional heartache and pave the way to more positive feelings and emotions.
So, try not to see anxiety as simply 100% negative. The emotions associated with it ultimately raise awareness and give us the wisdom to make the appropriate change. Instead of shoving body sensations and thoughts aside, move into them and pay attention. Instead of crying out in prayer for God to “fix it”, ask what it is God’s trying to teach. And finally, reframe the negative connotations, seeing them as helpful. It may just help strengthen enough to move through and out of discomfort.
— Jill Dagistino, Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern (Level 2 DBT trained)