Take our Generalized Anxiety Disorder Test

Find a therapist to overcome anxiety

Anxiety is more than excessive worry.

A person cannot effectively think their way out of a nervous system that feels unsafe.

Effective treatment for anxiety requires a holistic approach.

It is time to move beyond telling people with anxiety to simply stop worrying about the future.

A recent Psychology Today blog post by Neel Burton offered a Stoic perspective on anxiety. As a fan of Marcus Aurelius, I appreciate the value of Stoic wisdom. However, relying on it as the primary response to anxiety can misrepresent the condition’s underlying causes. It may also leave people feeling worse when they cannot simply “let go” of their worries.

As a psychotherapist who has worked with many clients experiencing anxiety, and as someone personally familiar with this unwelcome and worrisome guest, I find this oversimplification disappointing and frustrating. Ancient wisdom can be helpful, but it may not be sufficient on its own. Anxiety is not merely “worrying too much.” It involves central nervous system hyperarousal and complex interactions among the amygdala, prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, autonomic nervous system, and stress hormones.

This understanding of anxiety requires us to broaden our treatment options. Stoic philosophy, yogic practices, and modern teachings about the “power of now” can all have a place in the toolbox. Yet, in my personal and professional experience, simply recognizing that anxious thoughts........

© Psychology Today