🌿✨ Anticipatory Anxiety: When Worry Arrives Before the Problem ✨🌿
Anticipatory anxiety is a very common phenomenon: it’s the state of uneasiness or distress that appears before facing a future situation we feel concerned about. It’s not the event itself that triggers anxiety, but rather the anticipation of what might happen. While fear usually arises in response to an immediate and concrete danger, anticipatory anxiety makes us suffer over things that haven’t happened yet — and may never happen. 🔎 What is anticipatory anxiety? It’s the anxious activation of our body and mind as we imagine negative future scenarios. Our mind starts producing images, thoughts, and physical sensations of alert regarding something that may occur. Although this mechanism intends to prepare us, it often magnifies the risk and causes unnecessary distress long before the actual event. 🔹 Common examples: Before taking an exam or attending a job interview. Before speaking in public or giving a presentation. While waiting for important medical results. B...