Anticipatory anxiety: causes, symptoms and therapy

This harmful mental disturbance appears when intuiting a future with pain or high-stress situations.

In situations of danger or stress, we need to trust that our body will respond to the challenge. Imagine, for example, the situation of running away from a wild beast: if you are being chased by a tiger, you had better count on the full cooperation of your body to have your senses, muscles and reflexes more active and efficient than ever.

The same is true when it comes to suddenly dodging a car or avoiding any unexpected danger in modern life. Fortunately, our organism possesses tools to 'set off the alarm', and in fact, another virtue is our mind's ability to anticipate events, especially if they involve danger.. It is an ability that allows us to plan, organize and, in short, to be prepared for what (perhaps) may come. This is true both for immediate physiological reactions and for long-term planning.

These two capabilities are indispensable for survival, even in our seemingly calm and orderly society. However, there is one type of psychological disturbance in which these tools become a problem: the so-called anticipatory or anticipatory anxiety..

What is anticipatory anxiety?

Have you ever felt a great panic before speaking in public? Then, what you have experienced is an example of anticipatory anxiety, with a picture of great nervousness and panic. We are talking about the sensation you feel minutes before you have to speak in public, when you think, even, that the worst may happen. This type of anxiety is shown when suffering pathological panic attacks at the prospect of future events..

These events, which have not occurred and from which there are no reasonable grounds to infer that they will, are of a catastrophic and very negative nature.

How does this stress disturbance appear?

Life is uncertain, but there are certain statistical ranges that minimize the chances of the most terrible events occurring. Fearing to leave the house because you might be struck by lightning ignores any likelihood of that actually happening. Normally, life does not go in leaps and bounds where you go from bad to much worse.

Anticipation anxiety disorder is related to the difficulty of coming to terms with that idea. Those affected suffer from a certain intolerance to uncertainty and the need to have everything around them under control. Therefore, it frequently occurs in people with a high degree of demand on their own performance.

Extreme unfounded fear can occur without prior motivation, but it is very common for these individuals to exhibit anticipatory anxiety attacks as a consequence of a previous trauma. If you have suffered a specific anxiety attack, you may fear any situation in which you believe you will be exposed to conditions like those on that occasion.

You may also may also occur if you have a phobia.. For example, if you have a phobia of snakes, you may feel anticipatory anxiety at the thought of visiting a zoo. You imagine that you will see snakes, you experience anxiety and your body reacts with symptoms of terror. Your catastrophic outlook will not change even if there is no certainty of seeing a snake.

Symptoms of anticipation anxiety

The extreme stress has consequences on the organism. Pushing the body to the limit, with the corresponding hormonal rush, is necessary in situations of real danger. However, continued exposure to these physiological conditions is harmful to our body and psyche.

With anticipation, fear appears in the face of a non-existent threat that is viewed with the worst expectations. Catastrophic thoughts appear ("I won't be able to do it right", "there is no solution", "I will look ridiculous", "everything will go wrong", "the worst will happen", etc.) that initiate a torrent of panic signals. Your body reacts with physical symptoms such as the following:

• Tachycardia and palpitations.
• Dizziness, nausea, stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea....
• Tremors and unsteadiness.
• Sweating.
• Muscle tension.
• Stuttering and inability to concentrate.
• Headache.

These and other physical symptoms can occur with sufficient intensity to be disabling, and may even be mistaken for the symptoms of a Heart attack. Subsequently, after the anxiety attack, you may develop a fear of fear. That is, you may feel anticipatory anxiety at the prospect of a repeat anxiety attack. It snowballs.

Treatment

Anticipatory anxiety can be really traumatic and requires professional treatment. and requires professional treatment.

From psychology, cognitive-behavioral therapy and psychologist-guided relaxation techniques have proven effective to bring patients from that dreadful future to a controlled present.. Having an online psychologist provides facilities that bring therapy closer to home: you can enjoy online therapy with peace of mind in a comfortable and safe environment.

The goal is that this safe environment grows, so that you can increase your self-confidence until you can face the situations that cause you anticipatory anxiety. It is time travel, but with the mind: let's go back from that future to stay in the present.

Bibliographical references:

• Kendler, Kenneth S. (2004). "Major Depression and Generalised Anxiety Disorder". FOCUS.
• Rynn MA, Brawman-Mintzer O. (2004). "Generalized anxiety disorder: acute and chronic treatment". CNS Spectrums. 9 (10): 716–23.
• Seligman ME, Walker EF, Rosenhan DL. Abnormal psychology (2002). New York: W.W. Norton & Company.