Reframing Anxiety as Energy

Have you ever had a question you wanted to ask in class, but could not bring yourself to raise your hand? As you left class that day, you may have caught yourself thinking about what could have happened if you asked that question. Perhaps you may have even caught yourself beginning to think that you “should have” done so. Or, maybe you wanted to ask a co-worker of yours - or even your boss - for constructive feedback, but felt there was a piece of you that was apprehensive. And, as a result you refrained from pursuing those opportunities. 

At the moment, it is possible that a potential, overarching feeling responsible for these sensations, thoughts, and behaviors can be anxiety. Historically, anxiety has not always been treated as something to understand - but something to control. Aristotle emphasized “the good life,” viewing anxiety as an “excess of fear.” Epicureans emphasized getting rid of all “false beliefs.” Furthermore, skeptics emphasized getting rid of all beliefs. The goal of each of these? To essentially “stop pain and suffering.” Today, we often try to suppress anxiety in similar ways - through distraction or avoidance. Is this wrong? Not necessarily. There are many factors that can contribute to these beliefs, one of the largest being culture. But, an individual who begins to notice uncomfortable emotions and feelings despite practicing these philosophical ideas may decide it is time to begin to attempt to understand their emotions. Not from a place of judgement, but curiosity. 

While the philosophers above focused on controlling or eliminating anxiety, Søren Kierkegaard offered a perspective that sees it as a “guide” rather than a “problem” to erase. Kierkegaard proposed that there are two types of emotions: those that take us “down / away” from a value of ours and those that take us “up / towards” something that matters to us. The concept of “up” emotions operates under the assumption that all of our aspirational (up) emotions make us anxious. Rather than viewing that anxious feeling and / or sensation as “bad” or “negative,” it can be reframed as energy. Is it still uncomfortable? It can be. But, reframing the anxiety as energy emphasizes the significance of the emotion (the purpose) and can assist you in making meaning of it. 

Looking back on the examples at the beginning of this post where one may want to partake in a behavior / action on one hand, but on the other hand feels apprehensive in doing so, this in itself can create a paradox. If anxiety is indeed energy, why can we feel it regardless of the choices we make?

Because even when we hesitate or act, our values signal what matters, and that signal shows up as anxiety. You see, we all have our own set of values and the choices we make always reflect our values. 

An individual who places strong emphasis and importance on class participation, or getting to genuinely understand the material, may feel pulled (anxiety / energy) to ask questions in class. But, what happens if this value is denied, ignored, or placed in the back seat? Anxiety can become more prominent. It can almost feel as if it is lingering, as this value of yours (e.g., to participate) becomes unmet. 

Because they are present in every choice we make and every experience we live, values are - at times - prone to contradict themselves or trigger tension within you. Using the work example, you may value learning new things, connecting with others, pursuing ways you can advance yourself, etc., but on the other hand a competing value may be social safety or fear of embarrassment. The thought of pursuing this aspiration gives you anxiety, but the thought of not doing so does as well! This can essentially be viewed as a “trade off,” meaning that we often have to reflect on our values to understand which ones are prevalent in that certain scenario, and furthermore choose which ones take precedence over the others. 

The dilemma here? To live life is to be anxious. The responsibility we have in our lives emphasizes that we are our own guides, and that in itself can be anxiety provoking. While there may be places you can go to, individuals you can talk to (e.g., like therapy!), you are ultimately your own expert. Tune into your inner self, what is the anxiety trying to tell you? Next time you find yourself apprehensive or hesitant in a social setting, life scenario, or anything you characterize as such, try this out. Try to listen to those emotions from a place of curiosity, ensuring that you reflect on the values that are in play. Ultimately, as uncomfortable as it is, there is no universal “right” answer in the choices you make. However, you can start finding out what feels “right” for you by noticing, exploring, understanding, and then making meaning of the anxiety. This, in turn, can lead to resilience. And, that uncomfortable feeling you may be experiencing can become empowering. 

Anxiety is not a problem - it can operate as a GPS guiding you to what you value most. 

Living in Allison Park or the Pittsburgh area? Anxiety does not have to hold you back. Connect with a therapist at Mindful Therapy Solutions and discover how it can assist you in exploring what matters most.

***This post was inspired by ideas from Emmy van Deurzen and Martin Adams’ book Skills in Existential Counselling & Psychotherapy (2016), which I have expanded on with my own reflections and examples.***