Anxiety, a common human experience, often manifests in unpredictable patterns, leaving people confused or puzzled. Sometimes, we might be randomly hit by a wave of anxiety with no apparent reason. This sudden wave of anxiety can be difficult to navigate and cope with. In this article, we’ll explore the reason behind these random waves of anxiety and also look at a few ways of coping with them.
Decoding Random Waves of Anxiety
Anxiety is a complex emotion and experience; thus, the reason for random waves of anxiety might differ for everyone, but it is important to know that anxiety always has a cause, even if we aren’t aware of it in the present moment. Having said that, here are a few reasons why we might experience unexplained waves of anxiety.
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Stress
Anxiety is often a response to underlying stress, especially if someone has been undergoing significant stress for a long time. This is because stress is likely to change hormone levels in the body, making it difficult to cope with anxiety.
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Parenting
During childhood, kids must have autonomy and receive encouragement to explore healthy risks. However, if a parent is excessively anxious about their child’s well-being, they might unknowingly pass the excessive worry onto their children. This transmission can result in the child feeling uncertain about themselves and their environment. Sometimes, anxiety can be a learned response to childhood trauma as well.
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Emotional Triggers
Sometimes certain actions or events in our environment can trigger deep-seated and suppressed emotions. Some events may also trigger difficult or traumatic memories from the past. This mostly happens at an unconscious level but can lead to sudden changes in mood, causing anxiety.
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Anxiety Disorder
It is normal to experience fleeting waves of anxiety from time to time, but if this happens often, it can be a sign of an underlying anxiety disorder, especially if you find anxiety interfering with your regular activities.
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Physical Health Issues
Some health issues, such as heart rhythm irregularities (arrhythmia) and thyroid problems, can cause or make anxiety symptoms worse. Additionally, certain medications or substances have the potential to trigger anxiety symptoms.
How To Deal With Random Waves of Anxiety?
It can be hard to cope when anxiety occurs randomly without specific causes. Here are a few ways to deal with the same.
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Relaxation and Breathing
Anxiety can make it seem like we are losing control; in such situations, our breathing becomes faster, worsening the anxiety. Taking control of your breath through deep breathing exercises can help reduce anxiety. Adding muscle relaxation to the process can make it even more effective.
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Don’t Try to Fight It
Forcefully trying to ‘get away’ from anxious feelings can often make them worse. Instead, practice accepting these feelings and trying to observe anxious thoughts without judgment. Also, try to reflect and find triggers for the anxiety
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Reach Out For Support
Anxiety can often lead to feelings of loneliness, making the situation worse. Thus, try to reach out to a supportive friend or family member in difficult times to seek emotional support.
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Distractions
Our minds can generally focus only on one thing at a time, so distracting yourself with music, hobbies, etc. can help reduce anxiety.
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Seek Professional Help
If sudden waves of anxiety are a regular occurrence, you might want to consider seeking help from a therapist. A therapist can help you find the root cause of your anxiety while also developing healthy coping mechanisms
Conclusion:
Anxiety is a common, yet complex, feeling that manifests in a variety of ways. Sometimes, anxiety might manifest in the form of random waves, making it difficult to cope. However, breathing techniques, distractions, and reaching out to a friend or a professional can all be effective ways of coping with these waves of anxiety.
References:
- Feeling Anxious for No Reason? This Is for You. (2019, May 12). Psych Central. https://psychcentral.com/anxiety/feeling-anxious-for-no-reason
- Free Floating Anxiety: Symptoms, Causes, and Coping. (2022, November 15). https://www.psycom.net/anxiety/free-floating-anxiety
- Free Floating Anxiety: Symptoms, Treatments, & How to Cope. (n.d.). Choosing Therapy. Retrieved January 16, 2024, from https://www.choosingtherapy.com/free-floating-anxiety/
