Understanding Minds

At work

Preparing for work

I've heard a number of footballers recently describe themselves as suffering from "clinical anxiety". Got me to thinking: What is clinical anxiety? Twenty years of psychology and I've never heard of it.

Anxiety is a hormonal response to an uncertain future that triggers a natural adaptive response. Its purpose is probably to help us consider the future and to make adapative choices that maximise chances of escaping danger and accessing resources. Although it is a natural reaction, it should be short-term. It can become pathological if it goes on too long. When it does, it can cause problems such as prolonged use of escape or freeze behaviours, excessive autonomic nervous system arousal associated with high levels of adrenaline and cortisol, and even adverse health events.

Maybe that's what people are referring to when they use the term clinical anxiety? Anxiety is useful when it gives humans the energy to consider the future and to make preemptive adaptions. However, it becomes problematic (clinical) when it goes on too long and is maladaptive.