by Laura Zajac, PhD

Part 1

Anxiety is a tricky emotion. It can be helpful - a little anxiety as you cross a busy street keeps you alert and safe - and at the same time it can be uncomfortable. Anxiety acts as the mind’s warning system, triggering negative thoughts and physical reactions to alert us to a potential problem.

Imagine one of our ancient ancestors living in a world with predators like leopards and crocodiles around every corner. Back then your mind had to be constantly aware of potential threats. An ancient human who wasn’t alert to danger would likely get eaten.

Our mind also evolved to protect us from social threats. When our ancestors lived in small groups, getting kicked out of the tribe meant - again - possibly getting eaten by something with large teeth. So in social situations our minds serve up thoughts like, Do I fit in? Do other people like me? Am I making a mistake that might get me kicked out of the group?

Our minds are still like this today - a warning system that finds problems, triggers anxiety, and tries to keep us safe. Although the situations we face today are different from the problems our ancestors faced, our minds still evaluate and judge, worry about the future, and find problems. For people who struggle with anxiety, a first step toward managing that anxiety is to understand that an anxious mind is not dysfunctional, it’s actually doing the job it evolved to do. And if anxiety becomes overwhelming or near-constant, then you may have an anxiety disorder and psychological treatment can be helpful.