Anxiety: Prehistoric Instincts Applied to Modern Life
I can’t tell you how many of my patients first come to me with the goal of “getting rid” of their anxiety. Many feel an initial wave of disappointment when I explain that this isn’t something I can or should help them do. You see, anxiety is an essential human emotion. It’s not only a powerful survival skill, but also a great teacher. Imagine two of our distant ancestors: one who fears the dark jungle and one who doesn’t. Who is more likely to survive? Exactly, the one who has anxiety. Sure, bravery sometimes brought rewards like food or resources, but we can safely assume the person who charged headfirst into a buffalo herd wasn’t around long enough to pass on their genes.
Our Ancient Alarm System
In recent generations, we’ve succeeded in removing most of the life-threatening dangers that were part of everyday living. Instead of lions, we now face deadlines, relationship conflicts, financial pressures, and constant notifications. Yet our brains haven’t evolved to tell the difference. The same ancient alarm system still fires off as if our lives are at risk, even when the danger is psychological or emotional rather than physical. In other words, anxiety is doing exactly what it was built to do, just with prehistoric instincts applied to modern life. And although anxiety can be deeply uncomfortable, it remains an important part of being human. The goal isn’t to get rid of it, but to learn how to manage it skillfully.
When To Seek Help and How It Can Help
Therapist and client in session
It’s also true that, for many people, the sensitivity of this “internal alarm system” gets turned up far too high. When everyday situations start to feel like emergencies, that’s often a sign that it may be time to seek professional support.
With the help of a mental health therapist, you can learn to:
• Identify triggers and understand whether your response is appropriate or exaggerated.
• Develop adaptive coping and grounding techniques to regulate your nervous system.
• Build a healthier relationship with anxiety, one that is informative rather than destructive.
• Differentiate anxious thoughts from intuitive, grounded gut feelings.
As I mentioned, anxiety is a normal, universal part of being human. It has helped our species survive, and it continues to guide us in meaningful ways. If you’re struggling with intense or intrusive anxiety, the solution isn’t to eliminate it, but to learn to understand and manage it. With the right tools and support, you can retrain your internal alarm system to work with you, not against you.
If you're ready to explore your anxiety and build healthier ways of navigating it, reaching out for support is a powerful first step.