[Ljj7000]

Whenever I have an episode of anxiety, it feels very real. It feels like something bad really is going to happen. I tend to have anxiety over vet bad things happening in the future. I really hate the way it makes me feel.

I’ve worried multiple times in my life only for the bad thing not to happen.

I have a huge fear of uncertainty. I can’t seem to tolerate uncertainty.

Can you please give an explanation for why the anxiety feels very real? Any advice? Thoughts? Input?

Thanks to everyone in advance.

[Emotionally Dead]

The only thing I can come up with is the fact that our brains can make us believe anything. They are very fascinating. My anxiety attacks cause me to feel like I am literally dying. Anxiety can throw our worst fears at us. The only way you can really cope is either through medication or being able to comfort yourself. I think time and experience helps. I have never been medicated for my anxiety because, well, my anxiety makes me fear the medication. However, time and experience has allowed me to learn from each attack and I am much better at calming myself down during one than I used to be. Sometimes I still get in the "flight" mode, but other times I can actually remain calm until it passes and because of that my anxiety has been much better as of late with less attacks. Good luck.

[cool09]

Because it effects your heart rate and breathing.

[mote.of.soul]

To me, the anxiety feels real because the thoughts and feelings in and of themselves, are real. And that is the problem. Never mind if the things being worried about or the things one might feel paranoid about are true or not - that's not the issue. It's the anxiety itself - the thoughts and feelings and how they're impacting the persons life, which are the problem. It feels real because it is real - in the persons mind. That's why it's considered a mental illness.

[possum220]

Anxiety is the same as any other emotion. They are all real to us. Anxiety, happiness, any emotion that you can name. We tend to focus on emotions that feel unpleasant and we dont have a 'problem' with the 'good' ones like being happy.

I find it helpful when I am anxious to try and focus on the actual facts.
For example when I hear the wind I feel anxious but has anything bad happened? No. At other times using any means of distraction can help you to get through the peak of anxiety.

[marvin_pa]

It feels real because the way that your brain/body responds is the same as if you were in a physical fight/flight situation - the only difference is the degree to which that reaction is being triggered by an internal thought process vs some physical threat - the perception of danger is felt the same way and you end up having to override the built-in defense mechanism that would normally help keep you safe.