On Anxiety

Anxiety - Chairs on Chairs by Hamza Majeed Khan - @hamzamajeedkhan - “ I have this delicate balance between mind and hearth but I feel like anything could go wrong at any moment”

In prehistoric times, our ancestors’ biggest worries were survival. Would a wild animal attack? Was this plant safe to eat? Life revolved around immediate, life-threatening dangers. Thankfully, today, we don’t have to deal with mammoths or poisonous berries. We live in cities with traffic lights and grocery stores, where food comes neatly packaged, not hunted or foraged. So, what do we, as modern humans, worry about?

Anxiety has evolved with us. By the 20th century, events like World War II and the atomic bomb turned it into a shared, global issue. Today, we face new kinds of stress: wars, climate change, natural disasters, economic uncertainty, and the rapid rise of technology. Social media, smartphones, and artificial intelligence have added their own layer of pressure.

While our ancestors feared the wilderness, we fear not being good enough. We measure ourselves against social norms, chase perfection, and feel the weight of society’s expectations. The demands of modern life make us question our worth, piling on existential worries with economic and environmental concerns. It’s no wonder anxiety feels overwhelming.

But here’s the thing: anxiety is not just a burden; it can also be a tool for growth. Psychotherapist Rollo May, in his book The Meaning of Anxiety, highlights this idea. Drawing from the work of neurologist Kurt Goldstein, he explains that the ability to face and endure anxiety is key to personal growth. Just like our ancestors fought to survive and evolve, we too grow stronger when we confront challenges head-on.

Avoiding anxiety isn’t the answer. Instead, moving through it builds resilience. May suggests that courage is about responding positively to life’s shocks. By doing so, we expand our understanding of ourselves and the world around us. Anxiety, when faced, becomes less of a threat and more of an opportunity for self-discovery.

Today’s anxieties might look different from those of the past, but they are just as much a part of being human. By accepting and working with them, we can uncover our strength and turn our fears into growth.

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Reference:

May, R. (1950). The Meaning of Anxiety (2nd ed.). Istanbul: Okuyan Us Publishing House.