Read the full article which is published on Philosophy Bits (external link)An intense feeling of anxiety can be overwhelming. It can become almost impossible for me to remain present and attentive to what I must do in the moment when I am totally consumed by worry.
To eliminate my anxiety, I need to see the attachment that is producing it and loosen myself from it. But when I’m burdened by the immense weight of the feeling, it can be incredibly difficult to do this effectively. I’m forced to contend with the feeling, which is merely a symptom of the problem and not the problem itself.
My first impulse is to react to the feeling. I want to do whatever will remove the unease and apprehension I’m feeling as quickly as possible. I might turn to some form of distraction, something that will absorb my attention so that I’m not able to think any further about my worry. Of course, this doesn’t help me do what I need to do. But my inclination to escape through distraction does contain valuable information: I need to shift my attention in order for the feeling to weaken.
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