Anxiety & Panic

Anxiety disorder exists when a sufferer encounters a situation that would normally not be considered a significant threat and experiences an exaggerated anxiety response. When the anxiety response is disproportionate to the 'actual' level of threat, it becomes inappropriate anxiety.This isn't depression or any other mental illness, this is high anxiety – a higher emotional fear level, nothing more.

Anxiety (and therefore inappropriate anxiety) is subconsciously triggered by the Amygdala, a small organ in the brain.

Normally, the Amygdala operates at 'calm/normal' status. When we are faced with an anxiety-provoking situation, the Amygdala switches to 'anxious' and, depending on the level of threat perceived, initiates 'self-preservation' responses within the body.

Once the threat has dissipated, the Amygdala reverts back to 'calm/normal'. The effects of the 'self-preservation' responses may remain for a short time but eventually also fade as the body returns to a 'resting' status.

Exposure to extreme or prolonged periods of anxiety can cause the Amygdala to become reset, establishing 'anxious' as the new 'default' level. The Amygdala has 'learned' anxious behaviour.

The Amygdala now over-reacts to situations that would normally have low levels of threat with an exaggerated response and initiates extreme self-preservation mechanisms, normally reserved for potentially life-threatening scenarios.

The individual subconsciously adopts an 'anxious' disposition and has developed an anxiety disorder. However, the term 'disorder' suggests 'illness', which is incorrect. This condition has been 'learned' and, as such, is a 'behavioural' condition.