Can Anxiety be Positive?

Feeling anxious may seem like a negative emotion, but it can also hold unpredictable advantages underneath.

Performers like artists, comedians or athletes often talk about improvements in levels of creativity and overall performance by experiencing the right amount of anxiety.

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Little-known perks of anxiety include…

1. You Appear More Trustworthy

The feeling of embarrassment may actually make people around you more trusting of you.

Dr. Robb Willer suggests that embarrassment can be a sign of virtue, and not something to fight against.

“Embarrassment is one emotional signature of a person to whom you can entrust valuable resources.”

 

2. Better Memory

A person who is anxious might believe their memory is not that great, as they take longer time over decisions, constantly questioning themselves and running through multiple scenarios in their minds.

Again, the studies show their memory is not as bad as they think – individuals with high levels of anxiety take longer to evaluate their decisions and have unrealistically low confidence in their memory, especially when correct.

 

3. You Can Have Better Results in Tests

Many people with signs of anxiety have experienced the positive effects of anxiety on performance, as long as it’s not too much to actually hold you back.

Another determining factor especially true for exam success is a reasonably good memory.

One study shows that anxiety coupled with a good memory tends to do better in exams. The study further suggests that sometimes a little bit of anxiety can actually motivate you to succeed.

 

4. Good Friends

This may come as a surprise, but people with social anxiety disorder are seen more positively by others than they imagine.

The findings of this study show that even though sufferers think their friendships aren’t really of the highest quality, in reality friends feel more positive about them.

Dr. Thomas Rodebaugh suggests that high social anxiety can make people think they are coming across much worse than they really are and the same applies in their friendships.

It’s been also shown that people with anxiety are more sensitive and concerned about how they interact with others, being often more empathetic and understanding to the issues that other people face.

 

5. Not Really Looking That Anxious

People with anxiety may feel that everyone around them can see exactly how anxious they are, but that is not necessarily true.

More serious anxiety disorders may lead to an overestimation of one’s real-world symptoms.

Studies of severely anxious people reveal that the sweating is not as intense as they think, the shaking is not as bad as they imagine and their breathing is not as irregular as it may seem.

 

6. Fewer Fatal Accidents

If you are anxious you are less likely to be injured because you are always thinking ahead – scientific research confirms it!

The researchers found that anxious adolescents are considerably less likely to be killed in an accident than their less-anxious peers. The study suggests there are survival benefits of increased anxiety levels in early adult life, which may be balanced by corresponding survival deficits in later life associated with medical problems.

 

7. Building Resilience

While stress and anxiety are often seen as negative qualities, they can actually be good for you in certain circumstances. 

Studies show that when we face new challenges in life or work at the edge of our abilities, moderate levels of stress and anxiety we may experience can lead to higher than average resilience later on down the line.

 

8. More Fun Than Expected

Anxiety often causes a lot of thinking about everything, including expecting the worst.

Surprisingly, the socially anxious person may find themselves enjoying social occasions more than they expect, as an effect of consistently underestimating how much fun they would really have, one study shows.

 

9. In Leadership

Leaders need to run multiple scenarios and be prepared for any outcome. 

Those who suffer from anxiety may be skilled in leadership roles, as they carefully consider the possibility for multiple outcomes, being highly aware of what can potentially go wrong, making them cautious and careful when making decisions, as well as great problem-solvers.

 

10. The Human Race Needs Anxious People

Some scientists believe that the co-evolution of worry and intelligence has been a beneficial trait for humans.

Dr Jeremy Coplan explains that although worry may be seen as a negative trait in comparison with intelligence as a positive one, worry may cause the human race to better avoid dangerous situations, thus leading to higher survival rates.

 

While it is true that the upside to this situation is promising, anxiety can be a seriously debilitating condition in some cases. It may develop as a consequence of one or more stressful life events such as work stress, difficult changes in living situation, relationship/family problems or after experiencing a traumatic event.

 

When Does Anxiety Become a Problem?

Feeling anxious doesn’t always have a negative effect on our day-to-day lives, but when it begins preventing you from functioning normally, by stopping you from enjoying things you normally would or reducing productivity at work or home, then there might be a cause for concern. You can take anxiety tests or, can check the list below to see if you are affected by it.

Symptoms of an Anxiety Attack:

–        Fatigue

–        Sleeplessness

–        Anxiety attacks

–        Poor memory

–        Poor concentration

–        Frequent health concerns like headaches and stomach upsets

 

Do you suffer from anxiety?

The Hypnosis Masters Summit is the perfect opportunity to learn how to heal yourself from anxiety, depression, addictions and phobias. Learn from some of the world’s leading experts in the field and gain valuable insights that will help you understand and overcome your struggles.

With this knowledge, you can finally take control of your life and start living it to the fullest. Register today and get your seat to all the presentations!

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