Feeling anxious is common and normal. It is an emotion we evolved to plan ahead to keep us safe.

However, it can also get triggered in today’s world even when we aren’t in mortal danger.

We feel the same thing whether there’s a bear about to chase us down or we’re about to make a phone-call to a friend we haven’t talked to in a while.

This is why anxiety is normal, and it’s okay to feel it from time-to-time.

However, anxiety becomes a problem when we ruminate - worrying over the same thing without making any plans, taking action, or progressing towards a solution.

If we worry over and over and over again that our friend will reject us - which is not a deadly event, but which can feel that way - it can prevent us from ever picking up the phone.

To break out of an anxiety loop, we need to retrain our brain to recognize helpful worry from unhelpful thought traps.

There are ways to do this at any age - you can take back control of your brain and reduce anxiety. A trained professional like a therapist can help.

For more information on managing anxiety, read these guides:

• Medical minute: where is anxiety in the brain? (COMING SOON)

• I feel anxious - what can I do? (COMING SOON)

• What lifestyle changes help with anxiety? (COMING SOON)

• What medications help with anxiety? (COMING SOON)

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