If we found ourselves in a field and we suddenly saw a bull charging towards us, fear would give us a huge surge of adrenaline (the ‘fight or flight’ response).
This adrenaline would give us the energy to run to the gate, climb over and escape the bull.
In this situation, this ‘fight or flight’ response is a good thing.
If, the next day, every time we thought about narrowly escaping the bull we felt a surge of adrenaline, this could become a problem.
If we kept replaying the incident in our heads and imagining what if the bull had caught us, we may have anxiety symptoms- heart rate quickening, sweaty hands, and feeling nauseous.
We are no longer in a threatening situation. We don’t need the ‘fight or flight’ response to help us escape. However we imagine that we are in danger.
This is anxiety.
Our imagination is playing tricks on us.
Here is another situation.
Imagine being at home on your own late at night. You have been watching a horror movie. It has left you feeling scared and apprehensive.
You hear a sound outside, you start to imagine all the potential things that could happen, and you have the ‘fight or flight’ response.
But are you really in danger?
Your imagination is just playing tricks on you making you feel scared.
Now imagine you had been watching your favourite Walt Disney film instead.
You feel that warm glow of contentment and are ready for bed and a restful sleep. You hear a sound outside. It doesn’t bother you.
So what is the difference? When watching the Walt Disney film you haven’t triggered the ‘fight or flight’ response. Your imagination isn’t playing tricks on you imagining lots of what ifs.
Fear can be real or imagined but anxiety is nothing more than a scary movie you are imagining in your head, which you can change at anytime when you know what to do.
Your imagination can create anxiety but it can also be a tremendous tool to relieve anxiety and give you confidence.