Most people who are troubled by anxiety would like nothing more than to eliminate it from their lives. They see anxiety as the problem, and getting rid of anxiety as the solution. The first thing to understand about anxiety, however, is that it is a normal and inevitable part of being a human being. In fact, the presence of some anxiety is essential to our survival as individuals and as a species.
The Fight-or-Flight Response
The automatic, built-in alarm system that prepares your body to face a threat — and why it still fires for work deadlines and traffic, not just saber-toothed tigers.
The Relaxation Response
The opposite of fight-or-flight, and the two parts of it — breathing and muscle tension — you actually have some control over.