Anxiety “triggers” are really about our thoughts. We may think it’s a situation or circumstance triggering our anxiety, but it’s really our thoughts ABOUT a circumstance. Understanding this slight distinction can be empowering.
The other day I was at home on a group coaching call and I began having an allergic reaction to the cold (yes, it’s a real thing—google “cold urticaria”—no joke!).
The room I was sitting in was drafty. Even with my space heater going, I wasn’t adequately prepared for the reaction. I began shivering and shaking. My mind thought, “great, here we go again” and I began to feel annoyed. Then my thought shifted to “this is escalating and could get embarrassing” and I began to feel anxiety in the fear of the unknown.
“Everyone is watching me and they don’t know about my allergy”—I thought if I were sitting among friends, they would understand, but here I was in a professional setting and beginning to shake uncontrollably on camera.
I left the room to grab gloves and more layers of clothing. I was able to keep the swelling and hives at bay, and eventually my shivering and shaking subsided.
However, what I was left with was the anxiety I CREATED with my thoughts—all of it unnecessary and unhelpful. I sat with my anxiety and processed it. I allowed it to “be.”
Did I need to think these thoughts? What could I have thought instead? There are plenty of options, and I will get to practice this again and again. I have some work to do in accepting this circumstance and viewing it as neutral. I have severe allergic reactions to the cold. So what? Why is this a problem? I have done this my whole life.
Instead of resisting, I can practice sitting with my discomfort—physically, mentally, and emotionally. Chances are, I can get really good at this. What comes will come, what will be will be.
What thoughts are triggering your anxiety?
