Anxiety vs. Intuition — When to Trust Your Gut
As someone who’s struggled with a life-long anxiety disorder, for, well, my entire life, I know a thing or two about “false flags”. Those moments when your body kicks into fight-or-flight, for whatever reason, and you have to ask your conscious self, “Is this for real?”
Well, the answer is complicated. Anxiety and fear are natural, normal responses that we’ve developed biologically to help us escape a threat of some kind — which makes sense, right? Errr, sometimes. Sometimes (like in my case, or in the case of someone with a panic disorder, a history of anxiety issues, PTSD or CPTSD, etc.) our minds get a little too good at sounding the biological alarm, and trigger that primal reflex when we’re really not in any danger at all.
However, sometimes we are in danger, or just “don’t feel quite right” about something, and it’s 100% valid. And again, sometimes we get that feeling, only to find it’s a complete misfire — a “false alarm”, so to speak, when really everything is fine.
So, how can someone with a history of anxiety and these “false alarm” feelings learn to discern between their natural “gut” intuition, and their anxiety jumping the gun? I’m no expert, nor a medical professional, but here are some exercises that have helped me when things get a little murky.
“Real” threats vs. false alarms
Sometimes, the simplest solution to sorting out a “real” threat from a false alarm is asking yourself (i.e., your conscious self), a few quick questions:
Am I in physical danger?
Am I in emotional danger?
Am I around people I trust?
Am I in a safe space? Safe at home, or safe where I am currently?
If you can go through these questions, and confidently answer “yes” to each of them, you’re likely a-okay. However, if you do answer “no” to any of these questions, it’s best to remove yourself from the situation. Your gut paired with these conscious thought exercises will let you know if something is really wrong — always use your best judgment, and don’t be afraid to walk away from situations that aren’t serving you.
When to reach out for help
If you find yourself having these “alarms” go off multiple times a day, it might be time to seek help. Personally, therapy and doctor-monitored medication have helped me immensely — always work with a professional, and don’t be afraid to try multiple therapists or mental health practitioners until you feel you’ve found the one that’s right for you.
If you’re anything like me, you likely get anxious from time to time (and maybe more often than some other folks you know). However, you can overcome anxiety by nurturing your mind and body, and taking it a little easier on yourself sometimes.
Do you have any tips for self-soothing and sussing out what’s real vs. what’s no big deal? Let’s discuss,
Xoxo, MM.