Why People Quit Recovering from Anxiety

One reason that many people quit recovering from anxiety soon after they begin recovery is that the anxiety is extremely overwhelming and just too much to handle. This high anxiety scares people, reminds them that they cannot do it on their own, and then they retreat back into their shell, figuring they are lifelong "loners" or "losers" (think for a moment if any of these types of thoughts sound familiar).

What many people do not realize is that one of the tricks of the trade of anxiety recovery is that the anxiety becomes worse in the short-term for everyone who chooses to recover from anxiety. Why is this? The answer is that when anyone tries to step out of their comfort zone, they become nervous. For example, imagine a professional football player trying to play professional baseball. In a few exceptional cases, this transition has been a success; however, even for these people, the transition is quite scary because they are trying something new that they do not know as well as what they usually do. But, for Deion Sanders and Bo Jackson, while it may have been difficult in the earlier days to transition from one sport to another, it eventually became easier until the transition was seamless.

The same principle applies to those who are beginning to recover from anxiety. The anxiety is worse initially because something new is being tried, however, if one can stick with it and make it through the initial intense anxiety, he or she will find that the anxiety will reduce. This is incredibly difficult to learn, and most people, when they take even the slightest step outside of their comfort zone become horrified and move right back into their comfort zone. For example, say a person affected by social anxiety attempts to make conversation with a stranger and meets a situation he or she perceives as failure. The person will become extremely anxious and take this as a sign that he or she needs to avoid these situations again in the future.

However, with the help of a few supports such as a counselor, supportive friends, or some good advice, this person will be reassured that this intense anxiety is quite normal for everyone to experience when first making steps towards a healthy life. This means that the person did not fail, but had a typical experience. All the person needs to do is to continue to make attempts and believe that eventually the anxiety will reduce, and this is precisely what happens.

So, what exactly is meant by the short-term? This seems to be relative, but it seems that a good estimate may be somewhere around three to four months. In other words, after this initial period of three to four months, progress will begin to show itself to the recovering person and any outside supports. Three to four months on one's own can be very difficult, so it is very wise for the recovering person to have friends, family, or a professional to talk to while making the healthy steps he or she needs.

Do not let this article scare one from recovering from anxiety! While three or four months of extreme stress may seem like a lot, it is not that much in comparison to a lifetime of relaxation versus a lifetime of intense anxiety. Moving out can be difficult, but if one has the proper supports in place and one believes that he or she can really do it, then he or she will make all the progress needed to live a healthy and happy life!