5 Ways Anxiety Can Help You

In John 1:46, when Philip introduced Nathanael to Jesus of Nazareth, Nathanael responded with a twist on popular saying of the day: “Can any good thing come out of Galilee?”  Except, instead of “Galilee,” Philip substituted “Nazareth,” the town in Galilee that Jesus was from.  Galilee, the northern part of Israel, was “Hicksville.” No one thought the Messiah would come from that backwater part of Israel, yet He did.  A good thing actually did come out of Galilee, and specifically out of the town of Nazareth.  The lesson is, good can come from the most unlikely places. 

As a Christian therapist, I can’t help but think of that story when the subject turns to anxiety. No one thinks that anything good can come from anxiety. Those feelings of stress, jumpiness, tenseness, unease, and fear about something unknown in the future are unpleasant to say the least.  In periods of major change or difficult circumstances, you might experience anxiety in the form of tightness in the chest, difficulty breathing, sweaty hands, racing thoughts, feelings of woe.  No one wants to feel those things, and they can definitely be crippling.  So, people work very hard to avoid anxiety.  Yet, there are some good things that come from anxiety, some definite benefits of anxiety.   

One of the ways anxiety helps is by warning you of danger.

Of all the ways anxiety helps, this one can be life-saving.  When there is danger, your amazing brain instantly assesses the situation and sends signals to fight for your life, run away, or play dead (fight, flight, or freeze).  And it supplies the adrenaline needed to do so.  That is how mankind has survived all of these thousands of years, by following those anxiety responses of the brain to keep us safe.  If you see a snake move in the grass and you instantly run, thank your anxiety for saving you.   

Another way anxiety helps is by prompting you to change.

Have you ever had anxiety that made you worry about your job, health, finances, a relationship, or a big decision? You couldn’t sleep for worrying about it and thinking about it, and you finally did something about it.  Maybe you left a toxic work environment and got a better job, changed your diet, made a budget, got into relationship counseling, all good things.   Most of the good decisions we make in our life are prompted by anxiety about our current situation.  In fact, our English word “crisis” comes from the Greek word “krisis,” which means “change.”  A crisis is a moment in our lives where we realize that things can’t stay the same and we make a change, hopefully a good one.  So, again, thank your anxiety for the discomfort that led to many of the good changes in your life. 

Anxiety also helps by motivating you to prepare.

You might not have considered this as a way anxiety helps you, but think about it. If you’re in school and have a big test coming up, the anxiety and fear of failing helps by motivating you to put in the time and self-discipline to study so that won’t happen.  If you have a big project coming up at work, the anxiety and fear of failing and being demoted or losing your job helps by motivating you to focus and do your best. If your spouse has threatened separation or divorce, the anxiety that comes with prospect of losing your family helps by motivating you to finally get into couples counseling. Without that anxiety and healthy fear, there are many areas of your life where you would not succeed otherwise. 

Anxiety helps by inspiring you be prudent.

The Bible says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”  A healthy fear of bad consequences inspires you to stop and think carefully about the decisions you make so that you look at the various potential outcomes and choose the wisest course of action.  Anxiety causes you to formulate a plan and several back-up plans to reach your goals.  By the way, that is the mark of a good leader.  It is unlikely that, when you do are prudent and make good plans, you will be caught off-guard or unprepared.  This makes others want to trust and follow you.  Every wise person and leader knows this secret way anxiety helps. 

Anxiety helps by stimulating you to be compassionate.

If you struggle with anxiety, you understand not only these 5 ways anxiety helps you, but you also understand the toll that anxiety can take on a person’s mental and emotional life.  You are tuned in to what it feels like to have struggles with anxiety and to experience that inner tension and stress. Because of this, people who are struggling with anxiety sense that in you and may seek you out to help them.  The understanding and empathy you have gained also strengthens your relationships and your ability to connect with people in a deeper way.  That is a good thing, for sure. 

I hope that remembering these ways anxiety helps might enable you to get anxiety in balance and learn to use it to your benefit instead of your detriment.  But if anxiety is out of control in your life and has become a master instead of a servant, at SoulCare Counseling, we can help.  I urge you to read more about anxiety treatment and then reach out to us for a free thirty-minute consultation to get you started on the road to your better tomorrow.   

Dr. Bernis Riley holds a Doctor of Psychology degree, is a Licensed Professional Counselor – Supervisor, and is certified in Emotionally Focused Therapy. She is the Clinical Director/Supervisor at SoulCare Counseling, and is currently accepting new clients.