Anxiety is more than just a buzzword—it’s actually a natural response our body has to change or stress. Mild anxiety can feel like excitement, such as before a big game, and doesn’t usually get in the way of our daily lives. But when anxiety becomes intense, it can trigger our body’s “fight, flight, or freeze” response, making us react as if we’re in danger—even when we’re not. This often happens because of past trauma that our body and brain still remember. In cases like PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder), a person might relive a traumatic event as if it just happened. PTSD is a serious condition that sits at the extreme end of the anxiety spectrum and should be diagnosed by a professional. In a follow-up post, the writer plans to share when it’s time to seek help and offer tips on how to better manage anxiety.
This is very interesting, reading your post makes me think about my fear to dogs. I still struggle with that fear. I remember when I was a little kid, my neighbor’s dog chased me and bit me, it was horrible. How can I overcome this fear?
One of the main ways to overcome trauma as this is know as “exposure” therapy. First by talking about the trauma and then seeing pictures of dog, and finally getting close to a dog. This can take many sessions. Also EMDR is a useful modality for trauma. Let me know if this was helpful information. Dr Carey