SELF-IMPROVEMENT

Anxiety in Freedom

A reason you might be feeling anxious but not knowing why but being able to cope with it.

Have you ever noticed or felt that sense of personal anxiety you gain whenever you’re relaxing or doing nothing at the moment?

It was never something that happened instantly but tends to come at an unexpected time or when you weren’t undertaking anything.

This has happened to a lot of people , whether it be when they finish their work or with a big project. As they now have time on their hands and different ways to spend it.

Yet for some reason, this makes them worry. As if all of these choices or not doing anything is uncomfortable, with their nerve sinking and them getting jittery.

A reason for this anxiety

Soren Kierkegaard, once said that “Anxiety is the dizziness of Freedom”, as it was the effect of the freedom of possibilities. It meant during those times that you may have felt nervous, worried, or uneasy was the time you were free.

Free of all deadlines, free to read a book without worrying about anything and free to be able to whatever you want. It was also this freedom that caused us to worry, thinking that we might or should be doing something productive.

This type of freedom might be even more apparent in this Quarantine that we are having, where some don’t have to work or leave the house.

You finally have all the time in the world but this also brings a sense of unfamiliarity to us.

As if the freedom of having choices is something that terrifies us enough to make us feel anxious.

A way to rid yourself of this dread

But there is a way to overcome this anxiety, without taking away what makes your freedom so great.

This can be accomplished through reading a book, watching a movie, doing or picking up a hobby, or exercising.

Doing anything that you find enjoyable or think you will. Even if you have a countless amount of things you can do.

It’s fine, just choose one, even if you have to randomly do it, have someone choose it for you, or flip a coin.

It doesn't matter, as you will be taking away that those choices that was causing you to be indecisive.

As during that activity, you won’t be free but neither will you be anxious but instead content and having fun.

Conclusion

While this won’t always be the reason, this could be a factor. As it isn’t likely one would believe they are uncomfortable or feel anxiety because they have options.

That the freedom of choices is something that we don’t like as if the responsibility that comes with it.

Is something we dislike having and rather not have it.

One could figure out if this is the reason if they reflect on themself and see if there is an external reason why they are worried.

Once you have done that and found none, then next would be looking inside and asking yourself.

Just why am I worried?

In a way, it’s a type of self-reflection for us, which can lead to improving your mood and enjoy a higher quality of life.

As once you understand the reason and figure a method, you can move on to just having fun.