How does anxiety fit in?

[Shmolly]

I'm new to these forums. I have a question and I'm interested to hear what your interpretations are.

What is the explanation for feeling anxiety? (This can be anywhere from general anxiety to OCD-type anxiety). Does experiencing anxiety mean you are not in the present moment? Is the ego responsible for anxiety?

Thanks in advance for your responses

[spacecadetglow]

Hi Shmolly,

Anxiety is a physical reaction your body is having. If you're looking for a spiritual explanation, I'm sure someone here can give you one, but I like to look at anxiety as purely physical. It's easier to deal with that way. I reduce my anxiety levels by vigorous exercise and meditation.

That said, it's also helpful to look at WHY you're anxious. Almost always, for me, as you said, it's an egoic thing. I have the sense that "I" am experiencing some unpleasant feelings, and this is where the friction happens. Your mind goes on overdrive and you start having all these thoughts knock up against each other. You want unity, you want to be whole, you don't want to have these conflicting thoughts.

Well, if you realize there's no "you," the conflict ceases to arise. People spend so much time and energy trying to make themselves unified and whole. Conflict for them spells trouble, but conflict is natural, and we only see it as "conflict" because of the myth of the self that we are buying into, in our minds.

This is difficult for me to articulate, and I spent years listening to people saying the same exact thing as this and I never *got* it until very recently. But I hope it somewhat makes sense.

[Illuminatus]

Originally Posted by Shmolly

I'm new to these forums. I have a question and I'm interested to hear what your interpretations are.

What is the explanation for feeling anxiety? (This can be anywhere from general anxiety to OCD-type anxiety). Does experiencing anxiety mean you are not in the present moment? Is the ego responsible for anxiety?

Thanks in advance for your responses

Anxiety is a response to threats, both real and perceived, both in the present, and projected in the mind's eye.

[James81]

Anxiety is really a measure of the difference between the way you think things should be and the way they are.

It's also got some roots in the fear of a particular outcome....or the fear what you don't want manifesting itself.

[Angela]

Originally Posted by James81

Anxiety is really a measure of the difference between the way you think things should be and the way they are.

I love that -- very well put!

[Lakshyayidhi Lakshmihi]

Originally Posted by Illuminatus

Anxiety is a response to threats, both real and perceived, both in the present, and projected in the mind's eye.

Fear is a response to threats that have an identifiable stimulus, usually directly linked with a consequential reaction of escape or avoidance.

Anxiety is the general response condition to threats that are not immediately identifiable, and is more linked to those threats that are perceived as unavoidable or outside of the individual's locus of control.

Personally I feel anxious when I am allowing my mind to be preoccupied with things that aren't currently happening. When I'm not now.