A very important topic surrounding anxiety and panic disorder is awareness. Understanding who or what is at the root of your feelings is crucial to providing relief. Some people can live out their entire lives and never have ‘awareness’ of what their situation is. They live out their time with little or no sense that they have the power to change—as if they are a victim of circumstance. Other people have a heightened sense of awareness and that can help them diffuse, and choose, an alternate path.
What do you mean “Awareness?”
The type of awareness I am talking about stems from being present to what is happening. For example, I was getting up this morning and started my morning routine. In the midst of that routine something triggered a thought that was going to wind me down the path of brewing some anxiety. However, I was present enough and aware enough to notice what I was going to do. I could see it before it was going to happen. There was recognition of a predictable outcome.
At this point I could make a choice.
- Let things go as they would by fueling anxiety and panic and living out a predictable scenario
- Make a conscious decision that what I was facing was not catastrophic, life threatening, etc. and let it go
- Let my anxiety go where it will. However, I would observe the thoughts, body sensations, and feelings to see what happens. Not be a victim, but rather an observer
When you live with anxiety over an extended period of time you get quite familiar with it. You start to notice patterns and triggers. This is your awareness and it is key to helping you transcend the habitual ways of living a life with anxiety. When you start to have awareness of what is going on you are experiencing a fundamental and critical shift in your relationship to your life with anxiety. At first your timing may not be great. You may find that your awareness kicks in after you have been anxiety ridden for half an hour. Give it time. Your level of awareness will improve.
The key is to recognize what is happening, and that is your awareness. Once you have awareness you can choose a different outcome.
Have an experience with awareness that you would share? Please do so in the comments.
May this be of benefit.
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