Depression and anxiety are the most common mental health disorders in the United States. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, around 19% of adults in the U.S. suffer from anxiety, while 6.7% suffer from depression.
These disorders can profoundly impact someone’s life, affecting their ability to work, study, socialize, and even eat and sleep properly. For example, anxiety plays a crucial role in a person’s everyday life, especially when anticipating something.
The Effects of Anticipation
Anticipation is the feeling of dread or excitement that comes before an event. It’s relatively normal for people to anticipate something. It’s a way for them to cope and a way for them to make themselves feel better about an upcoming event. However, the anticipation can also lead to a lot of negative feelings.
Expectations play a significant role in how a person anticipates something. For example, if a person expects something to be perfect, they are more likely to be disappointed than if they have realistic expectations.
For example, if someone is anticipating their wedding day, they might have very high expectations. If the weather is bad or there are any hiccups with the planning, they might be disappointed. On the other hand, if they go into it with realistic expectations, they are less likely to be disappointed.
A person’s anticipations and expectations can lead to anxiety, and when this anxiety worsens, it can turn into a full-blown anxiety disorder.
Anticipatory Anxiety
As the name suggests, anticipatory anxiety is when a person feels anxious about something that will happen in the future. It’s the combination of expectations and anticipation. It can be anything from a job interview to a first date.
This feeling of anxiety is so intense that it can lead to a panic attack in some people. A panic attack is when a person experiences a sudden episode of extreme anxiety. It can be so severe that it leads to physical symptoms, such as a racing heart, sweating, and shaking.
Everyone can feel this kind of anxiety at some point in their lives. For some people, it’s a one-time thing. For others, it’s a chronic problem.
Chronic anticipatory anxiety can be very debilitating. It can affect a person’s ability to work, study and socialize. It can also lead to physical problems, such as stomachaches and headaches. It can also lead to an anxiety disorder, which you want to avoid.
Locus of Control as a Treatment
Anticipatory anxiety isn’t a full-blown mental disorder, but it can become one if you don’t do anything about it. One way to treat this form of anxiety is by taking control.
Taking Control
Let’s talk about a person’s locus of control. This is the belief that a person has control over their life. If someone has a high locus of control, they believe that they can control what happens to them. If someone has a low locus of control, they think they can’t control what happens to them.
People with a high locus of control are more likely to succeed in life. They are also more likely to be happier and healthier.
People with a low locus of control are more likely to be anxious and depressed. They are also more likely to have unhealthy lifestyles. So, how does this relate to anticipatory anxiety?
People who have a high focus of control are less likely to experience anticipatory anxiety. That’s because they believe that they can control what happens to them. They don’t worry about things that might happen because they know that they can handle them. Let’s put that into an example by using an event where most people experience anticipatory anxiety: weddings.
Weddings are a significant moment in people’s lives, and it’s where most people experience anticipatory anxiety. That’s because there is so much that can go wrong. Will the weather be good? What if I trip and fall? What if I forget my lines?
All of these are valid concerns. But, people with a high locus of control don’t worry about them. You can increase your locus of control by concentrating on something you can have control over. For example, what the bride wears tends to be the centerpiece of the wedding. In that case, shopping for fabulous wedding gowns can ease the feeling of not knowing what you’re going to wear during the day. It can also give you a picture of how good you’ll look during the wedding. It’s one of the best ways brides cope before their wedding and alleviate their anxieties.
You can also learn how to deal with your anxiety by taking control. You can start by learning about the different types of anxiety disorders. Then, you can find out what causes them and how to treat them.
You can also take control by making lifestyle changes. For example, you can exercise regularly and eat a healthy diet. These things can help to reduce stress and anxiety.
You can also take control by talking to someone about your anxiety. This can be a friend, family member, therapist, or counselor. Talking to someone can help you understand your anxiety and how to deal with it.
Taking control of your life is the best way to deal with anticipatory anxiety. It can be a chronic problem, but you can manage it. And, by taking control, you can live a happy and successful life.
