Miscellaneous
In this episode we are learning more about what is anxiety. Most of the time we see anxiety as an enemy. It lurks in the shadows. It's a monster that keeps up paralyzed, and holds us captive from engaging in our lives in a full and meaningful way. What we want to do is move our anxiety from enemy to frenemy to friend. This means we need to get to know anxiety in a more intimate way. We need to bring it out of the shadows, and see it for what it is. What we learn here is that anxiety is designed to be a protective mechanism. It originates in the brain. Everyone experiences it, and it is an automatic process. We perceive a threat in the environment, and the brain triggers the sympathetic nervous system to release chemicals that stimulate our body to fight, flight, or run. It is a useful mechanism except when we see most everything in our environment as at threat. In the episode we learn that this is normal, and that we can then use anxiety as a signal. What are we perceiving as a threat, and then what can we do about it. Also we look at an article from NPR.org on how to protect our children from anxiety found here: http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2015/09/25/443444964/parents-can-learn-how-to-prevent-anxiety-in-their-children?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_content=20150925 This episode is a preview or a review of material presented at St. Peter's Episcopal Church on October 4, 2015 as part of a 4 week seminar on Embracing Anxiety. St. Peter's is found at: http://stpetersaz.com Connect with me at info@drneilstafford.com Dr Neil Stafford on Facebook or @drseab on Twitter Also check out my new volunteer effort at: http://www.azftf.gov/Pages/default.aspx