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24

December 13 • 2012

S

ince the downturn in the
economy, times have been
tough. Many have lost their
jobs; some have lost their homes.
Issues related to these events, as evi-
denced in my clinical practice, have
resulted in a dramatic increase in
anxiety.
Anxiety serves different
purposes: It can generate
positive energy that can
excite or motivate, such
as when preparing for a
presentation or sporting
event. Or as a response to
these same endeavors, it can
paralyze.
Anxiety and depression
often are connected, but
there are distinct differences.
Depression typically has
a specific cause or reason.
In contrast, psychologists
describe the vague nature of
anxiety as "free-floating; that is, uncon-
nected to a specific situation or event.
My clients portray anxiety as being
engulfed in a cloud of doubt or appre-
hension with no way to dissipate it.
Worry is the central feeling associ-
ated with anxiety. Small concerns
intensify into monumental forebod-
ing as a workable reality changes
into an unpredictable fantasy. As
anxiety increases, the individual
ruminates about a range of potential
perils of some unanticipated disaster.
Trepidation in the face of a dreaded
outcome gives rise to the instinctual
inclination to flee. This fear instigated
by some uncontrollable outcome
can be paralyzing and emotionally
debilitating. Like Alice in Wonderland,
discerning fact from fiction becomes
infuriating.
Emotional symptoms, such as
agitation, irrational thoughts or wari-
ness, can be accompanied by physical
symptoms, such as disrupted sleep,
shaking, tearfulness, or rapid or
drawn-out breathing. When emotion
overcomes logic, anxiety can trigger
embarrassment, magnifying concerns
about whether one will be accepted
or rebuffed by others. Some may seek
to isolate themselves from presumed
social rejection precisely at the time
when social support is needed most.
Misinterpreting social or environ-
mental signals can cause a variety of
irrational reactions. Heightened ner-
vousness can overwhelm, potentially

leading to panic attacks. It is impor-
tant to realize that the anxiety from
which the individual wants to escape
emanates from within, so, therefore,
there is no safe place to flee. As much
as he or she would like, jettisoning
anxiety like excessive baggage, espe-
cially alone, is arduous.
When people encounter
someone who is confront-
ing anxiety, they may not
understand what is actu-
ally happening. Their first
response may be to try
to calm the individual. In
their minds, they are try-
ing to ease what seems like
an absurd reaction to a
presumably mundane cir-
cumstance. Even calm talk-
ing can excite uncontrolled
emotions. However, saying
"get over it" or "it can't be
that bad" only debilitates
an already distressed person. Instead,
seek ways to lower the person's already
elevated emotions by redirecting the
person toward some special focus.
It is noteworthy that most people
do not realize that anxiety experiences
generally last fewer than 15 minutes.
The first few minutes of anxiousness
are the most intense, causing others to
expect a prolonged event rather than a
quick recovery. Having available social
support can reduce the impact of an
anxiety-provoked event and, ultimate-
ly, make recovery easier.
We all have experienced anxiety.
As children, we worried about strang-
ers, weird sounds late at night or
whether monsters were hiding in the
closet. Our parents offered comforting
thoughts or enticed us into a favorite
activity to reduce our uneasiness, and
most of us outgrew our fears. Yet, oth-
ers have sustained these feelings well
into adulthood. For some, getting a
therapist's help, possibly including
medication from a doctor, can lead
to a reduction in anxiety. Taking that
first step in itself may be fraught with
anxiety. Yet, time and assistance can
dramatically change a person's life for
the better.

❑

Dr. Daniel Rosenbaum is a clinical social

worker at Counseling Associates Inc. in

West Bloomfield, where he counsels chil-

dren, teens and adults experiencing family

or personal psychological problems. Reach

him at (248) 626-1500.