Anxiety As Secondary Emotion

Anxiety is often a secondary emotion, meaning it is experienced instead of another emotion that is complex or difficult to feel or express. Primary emotions are our first responses, while secondary emotions arise in response to primary emotions. For instance, anxiety can be a secondary emotional response to emotions like anger, jealousy, hurt, disappointment, embarrassment, and sadness. Experiencing two secondary emotions concurrently, like anger and anxiety, is also possible.

Understanding primary and secondary emotions can help us understand ourselves and our reactions to the world around us better.

Overview

Theoretically, using secondary emotions as a defense mechanism safeguards us from dealing with more intricate and difficult feelings. However, it is easy to mistake an authentic emotion and believe a situation or event has caused us anxiety or anger while the actual emotion is entirely different.

The case can become perplexing for individuals with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). They may perceive anxiety as their primary emotion, and it can be a relatively expected and familiar feeling.

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Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Individuals with chronic anxiety and uncontrollable worry significantly impacting their lives are often diagnosed with GAD. Individuals with GAD tend to view the world as anxiety-provoking and perceive life experiences through this lens.

Mental Health Symptoms

According to the DSM-5, a diagnosis of GAD requires anxiety and worry persisting for at least six months.

Mental health signs and symptoms of GAD may include:

• Analyzing every possible negative outcome in a situation
• Difficulty concentrating or having mental blanks
• Indecisiveness or inability to handle uncertainty
• Distress about making decisions due to fear of making the wrong choice
• Inability to relax, feeling restless, on edge, or keyed up
• Persistent worrying or obsessing about minor or significant concerns disproportionately to the event's impact
• Worrying excessively about worrying

Physical Health Symptoms

Physical signs and symptoms of GAD can include:

• Being easily startled
• Fatigue
• Headaches
• Irritability
• Muscle tension or muscle aches
• Sweating
• Trembling or feeling twitchy
• Difficulty sleeping

If you or someone you love battles generalized anxiety disorder, reach out to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area. For more mental health resources, visit our National Helpline Database.

Deciphering Complex Emotions

To uncover the sentiments (primary emotions) that underlie your anxiety, start by asking yourself that question. Be open to the prospect that you are injured, let down, or grieving instead of being anxious.

Acknowledging the potential for other emotions beneath your anxiety marks a significant step in understanding yourself, honing your emotional intelligence, and taking action to enhance your situation based on those underlying emotions.

If you are left with some fear, your anxiety is probably in the proper place. Try this approach to see if it can reduce your worry and help you make life changes that will genuinely resolve the real negative feelings you have instead of overlooking your experience and causing constant worry for "no apparent reason," as many people with GAD tend to do.