NoPoet
27-06-16, 16:53
Hi all, I had an interesting conversation with a girl from my writing group who has bad anxiety problems.
It seems to me that fear is not the main cause of anxiety. I am starting to believe that doubt is the cause. Using myself as an example, I am confident in my writing and am not afraid to read it to the group. I enjoy doing it, and their reactions have boosted me to the point where I am writing nearly every day, as opposed to a few days a year.
On the other hand, going on a night out is something I am NOT very confident about. I used to spend all week imagining getting mugged or humiliated somehow, or alcohol making me depressed or making my medication poison me. I doubted my safety, doubted my appeal to women I don't know, doubted my ability to handle alcohol, doubted my ability to socialise. This led to the intense fear we think of as anxiety.
After going out nearly every Saturday night for the last two months, several of my persistent doubts have either been reduced or conquered altogether. I no longer experience intense fear and distress before going out, and when I do feel fear it is entirely connected to doubts.
I do not doubt myself because I am afraid. I am afraid because I doubt myself.
Could it be that anxiety is actually an expression of self doubt? The fear is caused by the doubt, therefore fear is NOT anxiety, fear is a SYMPTOM. Doubt is the causative agent. Therefore there's little point trying to fight your fears - you should understand your doubts and work to reprogram them.
Maybe this is why a lot of people struggle so much with anxiety? We are encouraged to fight the symptoms, not the cause. Food for thought? Or am I just ranting?
It seems to me that fear is not the main cause of anxiety. I am starting to believe that doubt is the cause. Using myself as an example, I am confident in my writing and am not afraid to read it to the group. I enjoy doing it, and their reactions have boosted me to the point where I am writing nearly every day, as opposed to a few days a year.
On the other hand, going on a night out is something I am NOT very confident about. I used to spend all week imagining getting mugged or humiliated somehow, or alcohol making me depressed or making my medication poison me. I doubted my safety, doubted my appeal to women I don't know, doubted my ability to handle alcohol, doubted my ability to socialise. This led to the intense fear we think of as anxiety.
After going out nearly every Saturday night for the last two months, several of my persistent doubts have either been reduced or conquered altogether. I no longer experience intense fear and distress before going out, and when I do feel fear it is entirely connected to doubts.
I do not doubt myself because I am afraid. I am afraid because I doubt myself.
Could it be that anxiety is actually an expression of self doubt? The fear is caused by the doubt, therefore fear is NOT anxiety, fear is a SYMPTOM. Doubt is the causative agent. Therefore there's little point trying to fight your fears - you should understand your doubts and work to reprogram them.
Maybe this is why a lot of people struggle so much with anxiety? We are encouraged to fight the symptoms, not the cause. Food for thought? Or am I just ranting?