Anxiety can be understood as a pathological defense mechanism?

Hello! I really hope my answer can help you in some way.

First of all, it's important to understand the difference between anxiety and anxiety disorders. If it's just anxiety, it's actually a very normal defense mechanism and is functional. However, if it's an anxiety disorder, professional help is needed. If the degree is particularly serious, drug treatment is also needed to intervene physiologically in order to recover.

I've got some great advice for you!

Anxiety is an amazing thing! When we understand it from an evolutionary perspective, we can see its incredible function.

Anxiety is a normal human emotion that serves a purpose. Just imagine that in the ancient forest, our ancestor encountered a tiger. If he wasn't anxious, it would be difficult for him to quickly switch on the "fight-or-flight" mode and escape from danger.

Anxiety is an amazing thing! It can fully mobilize the functions of various organs in our body, moderately improve the reaction speed and alertness of the brain, help us improve the efficiency of our actions, and allow us to escape danger.

In modern society, we don't have to worry about floods or fierce beasts, but there are still plenty of things that can be considered "dangerous" to us. And the more you care about something, the more anxious you will be about it. For example, for students, as long as we care about the exam, anxiety is inevitable, unless we don't care about the exam, but most students do, so most candidates will experience a certain degree of tension to keep them focused, a state of alertness, which is good for improving exam performance.

And that's when it can become harmful.

So, don't resist anxiety! The more you resist, the more anxious you'll become. Anxiety is here to stay, and it's actually a good thing! When you accept anxiety and work and study with a moderate amount of anxiety, you'll be more efficient.

2. The great news is that you can use some effective ways to relieve your anxiety.

Anxiety is about the future. When we are always worried about something in the future, but feel that we have no control over it, we will become anxious. But here's the good news! The future has not yet arrived, and the things we are anxious and worried about have not actually happened. So, we have the power to choose how we react to these situations. Our anxiety at this moment in time actually serves no purpose other than to cause ourselves trouble. But we can change that!

It's time to refocus your attention on the present and take control of the things you can change! When you're feeling anxious about an exam, shift your focus to the present moment and identify specific steps you can take to prepare for the exam. Taking action is the best way to overcome anxiety. As you take steps towards your goal, you'll feel your anxiety start to melt away!

And there's more! You can also go to the root of your anxiety and identify the catastrophic thinking behind it. For example, you might think, "If this fails, I'm finished!" or "If I don't do this well, they won't like me!" These thoughts affect our emotions, but they are just thoughts, not facts. You can see these thoughts in yourself and adjust them, replacing these unreasonable beliefs with more constructive ones. For example, you can say to yourself, "No matter what the result is, I am willing to work hard and do my best in the process." As for the result, you can let nature take its course. This does not mean that you are bad or have failed. You can also say to yourself, "I believe that I will gain a lot in the process..."

There are so many great ways to relax! Try breathing exercises, muscle relaxation, mindfulness meditation, or even exercise. All of these are fantastic choices!

I hope this is helpful for you! Wishing you the best!

Hello, questioner! Thanks for asking. I hope my answer will be helpful to you.

When you asked about anxiety disorders and the physical symptoms they cause, you also helped me understand the relationship between the two. Let's try to look at it.

It's important to understand them and not just brush them off as a pathological defense.

Anxiety is a natural response to potential threats. It's a subjective feeling we experience when faced with disaster, threat, or internal conflict. In some cases, it can help us stay alert and ready to respond.

However, when they become excessive and persistent, they can develop into an anxiety disorder, which is more of an imbalance in how our body and mind respond to stress and challenges.

Our ability to handle anxiety is often directly related to the occurrence of physical symptoms. It's the anxiety, fears, and conflicts that we're not aware of that are most likely to cause physical illness (somatization).

Somatization is a form of anxiety. It's not something we do on purpose, but rather our body's way of expressing deep-seated unease and pain. These feelings may include headaches, stomach aches, muscle tension, etc., and they're the result of the mind and body interacting with each other.

Different kinds of physical symptoms usually show up when someone is dealing with a long-term conflict and can't resolve it at the conscious level. So, the symptoms are a way of protecting against the anxiety-inducing situation.

Illness and anxiety are two sides of the same coin. When someone is ill, they don't feel very anxious, but when they recover, the anxiety returns.

If you notice symptoms, it's probably because you're struggling to cope with anxiety. It might be a way of protecting yourself from getting worse.

Picture this: You're standing in a vast grassland. Anxiety is like the wind in that grassland—sometimes it's gentle, sometimes it's fierce. But if the wind turns into a sandstorm, it'll make you unable to breathe. That's how anxiety disorders and somatic sensations make us feel.

Back to your question:

Psychological defense mechanisms are a way for our mind to protect itself, helping us cope with internal conflicts and external pressures. When we're anxious, we may express and release our inner tension and unease through somatization, which is a form of defense.

However, if this defense mechanism is overused or becomes dominant, it can cause problems. Some physical symptoms of anxiety, such as palpitations, chest tightness, and headaches, may not be real physical illnesses, but rather the physical manifestation of psychological conflicts and stress.

This excessive physical reaction could be considered a "pathological" defense mechanism.

To help us understand and cope with this situation better, we can try the following:

First, accept your emotions. Don't repress or deny your anxiety—face it and accept it.

Second, consider getting some professional help. If the anxiety is still there and affecting your daily life, it might be a good idea to talk to a counselor who can help you find a better way to cope.

Finally, learn to relax. Try some relaxation techniques like deep breathing and meditation. They can help relieve anxiety and somatic feelings.

Anxiety can be a good thing. It helps us push through challenges and realize our potential.

Mentally healthy people aren't free from anxiety, but they can move forward despite it.

If you'd like to learn more about anxiety, I'd highly recommend reading the book The Meaning of Anxiety.

I love the world and I love you!

Hello, host! I'm thrilled to answer your question. As the information states, can the feelings produced by anxiety disorders and somatization be understood as pathological defense mechanisms?

Your point of view is fascinating! Every emotion in our body is designed to protect us, both physically and mentally, from harm. The emotional control center is located in the lower back of our brain, the brain stem, and the surrounding tissues.

This is the part of us that grew and developed first, and its main function is to protect us. You think that anxiety and the somatic reactions it produces are a pathological defense mechanism. My view is that whether a defense mechanism is pathological depends on how much impact this anxiety has on the person concerned.

Any emotion can be divided into two parts: one is the feeling, and the other is the perception. The feeling of anxiety is fear, and the perception is about what will happen in the future. That is why anxiety is also called anticipatory anxiety—and it's a great thing!

However, any emotion has both pros and cons for us. Severe anxiety can affect our physical and mental health. We live in constant fear, but we can also live in constant hope!

Appropriate anxiety can actually improve our concentration and work efficiency, reducing unnecessary mistakes and errors in our work and life. An objective and dialectical view of a certain emotion is more conducive to maintaining our mental health—and it's a great thing!

I'm thrilled to have an appointment! 1983. The world and I love you!