Is all anxiety "bad"?

Anxiety is an adaptive process that allows us to face situations encoded by our brain as "danger". The organism prepares itself to deal with such an event by activating a series of adaptive biological processes.

But...when does it become a problem and should we ask for help?

• When its occurrence is disproportional to the stimulus that trigger it.

• Persists over time: It is recurrent and sustained or long-lasting.

• It becomes uncontrollable: you feel it begins to dominate your life, it governs your actions, emotions, sensations and thoughts.

• It interferes with the usual performance that the person has causing dysfunctionality.

• It generates you discomfort, suffering, pain or anguish.

• It begins to bring problems in your relationships: you begin to have difficulties that were not there before with your friends, partner, family, co-workers, etc.

It is important to know this in order not to fall into the pathologization of daily life or medicalization of any unpleasant feeling (physical, emotional).

The organism speaks to us and we must listen to it. And, if you think the discomfort is affecting you, look for a professional orientation.