Sometimes anxiety is not just in the head
Anxiety is a feeling that everyone experiences. It arises when we face uncertainty or the possibility of pain, and it diminishes when those conditions resolve. On the other hand, anxiety can be a condition rather than just a feeling. We “have” anxiety when we experience anxious feelings frequently or intensely and when our anxiety disrupts our sleep or interferes with normal functioning.
There are two main types of anxious conditions that we might suffer from: the cognitive type and the visceral type. Pittman and Karle, in their wonderful book Rewire Your Anxious Brain, call these “cortical-based anxiety” and “amygdala-based anxiety.” The former is associated with our thought process (our tendency to worry). Amygdala-based anxiety, on the other hand, feels like it happens by itself. The body experiences “irrational” physical symptoms of anxiety that we may not be able to explain, even to ourselves. Phobias, separation anxiety, and panic often produce visceral fear.
Visceral fear is the effect of a system flooded with anxiety chemistry. These chemicals are meant to give us energy to be stronger and shout louder — all in the service of saving ourselves or others. However, when that energy isn’t employed (i.e., we’re not going to be screaming), then it produces uncomfortable physical (visceral) symptoms such as sweaty palms, rapidly beating heart, and lightheadedness. These symptoms can be so intense that the sufferer feels like the heart or brain will burst. In fact, if the person would just use the excess energy, equilibrium would be restored. Doing jumping jacks or running a few blocks provides rapid relief from this sort of anxiety because it simply uses up the excess energy.
Of course, it won’t always be possible to run off the jitters. Nonetheless, those who suffer from frequent visceral fear should keep in mind that regular aerobic exercise tends to keep excess emergency chemistry in check and is thought to reduce the overall tendency to over-produce adrenaline. Since some people have a greater inborn tendency to release this chemistry (a sort of loose valve), acting preventatively can be helpful. However, in order to truly stop visceral anxiety from happening, more steps need to be taken.
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