How to Tell When Technology Makes Anxiety Worse

These are the signs to look for. Anxiety (and its big brother, fear) is always about something that hasn’t happened yet. Even when the worst does happen, anxiety goes away. It’s not the loss of a limb that is frightening; it’s the anticipation of losing a limb that makes you afraid. Stop Anxiety from Sucking the Life Out of You When we perceive a real danger or find ourselves facing something unknown, anxiety is one of the best tools in our self-preservation box. It sharpens our senses and washes our cells with cortisol and adrenaline, which increase energy and strength in the moment. It prepares us to fight or to run. Being in that state of readiness, though, is exhausting. Eventually, the system is depleted, and a deep tiredness can kick in. We’ve been bombarded by one disaster after another this year — relief is barely sent to the victims of the first when another catastrophe happens. Hurricanes, forest fires, mudslides, and earthquakes. And these are just the natural disasters, that have always happened on this planet. I haven’t even mentioned political upheaval and terrorism. According to Psychology Today, Google searches for “anxiety” have tripled in the last decade. I’m talking ordinary, everyday, garden-variety anxiety, the kind that alternates with hope, depending on what we’re telling ourselves about the situation. Why the exponential increase? And what can we do about it? Technology is partially to blame. Because we are aware of a past ...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Anxiety and Panic Disorders Publishers Technology YourTango Fear Source Type: blogs