The philosopher Soren Kierkegaard once described anxiety as “the dizziness of freedom.” For one person, this feeling has been a lifelong companion. This account details what that experience has taught them, while making clear this is not an endorsement of anxiety itself.
The person recalls a childhood incident in the 1980s that sparked intense worry. During an unsupervised football game, another player’s pants were pulled down, exposing them. While others laughed, the fear of this happening personally led to physical sickness before daily activities. At the time, discussions about mental health were not common, and the anxiety was not recognized as such.
Over the years, the anxiety has persisted, seeming to intensify after bouts of COVID-19 in 2020 and 2021. While never pleasant, it has forced a more mindful approach and yielded specific lessons.
First, anxiety has taught the value of being present. Its intensity roots a person squarely in the current moment, allowing them to observe physiological sensations as mere energy and to see how the mind transforms them into emotional suffering.
Second, it provides a stark lesson in control. A person learns they cannot control the external triggers of anxiety, but they can control their response to them. This process often shifts focus to something larger than oneself, a recognition of not being in charge of everything.
Third, anxiety reinforces the need for good habits and boundaries. During good times, self-care can slip, with poor diet, lack of exercise, and allowing unhealthy people closer. Anxious periods serve as a reminder to “clean house” and re-establish those limits.
Fourth, it underscores the importance of growth. After managing a spike, a person often seeks new projects or positive steps. For this individual, it led to shifting from counseling to less stressful life coaching and adopting better diet and exercise routines.
Fifth, anxiety has taught gentleness. Feeling fragile during high anxiety helps build empathy for how others might feel in the face of bluntness. The person notes they have become gentler with others during these times.
Sixth, it teaches the value of slowing down and asking for help. Anxiety can prompt quick, often poor, decisions. The learned response is to slow down, be intentional, and discuss major choices with someone else.
Seventh, paradoxically, anxiety can help speed up. As folk singer Joan Baez said, “Action is the antidote to anxiety.” For tasks that provoke anxiety, like certain phone calls, taking prompt action is often the only way through.
Mental health professionals often note that anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health conditions in the United States. While experiences vary widely, the shared understanding of anxiety has grown significantly since earlier decades. This increased awareness has helped reduce stigma and encouraged more people to seek strategies for management, from therapy and medication to mindfulness and lifestyle changes, reflecting a broader public conversation about psychological well-being.