By: Stella McAllister

All humans’ experience anxiety, although it is regarded as being bad for health or something that needs to be corrected, anxiety is a feeling designed to protect oneself; it is fight-or-flight response and is frequently the thing that encourages one to finish homework, study, or complete chores. It is a normal human reaction to stress and danger and can, in fact, be very beneficial.

Even if anxiety sometimes seems excessive, it can in fact assist in performing well. For instance, feeling nervous before a test or a presentation may encourage studying more or practicing more. Most people claim that a small amount of anxiety makes them more alert and concentrated. In this way, anxiety is not merely a negative thing, it’s a feeling that can contribute to success. Many people believe it helps them carry out tasks, “My anxiety can be really helpful at times when I need to be on time for important events, it helps me get my schoolwork done, study hard, and care about others,” said Junior at Ponte Vedra High School Caia Guar. When there is a major test or a job interview, most likely anxiety is overwhelming; this is the body getting ready for what might occur. The origins of both good and bad anxiety are things that happen in everyday life, they might relate to sports, school, or something important that you know is coming up. A Junior at Ponte Vedra High School, Nora Durstewitz, remarks, “I usually get anxious when I have things going on at dance and have a deadline for things at school.” Experts stress that it is important and beneficial to learn when anxiety is helpful or harmful. Dr. Wendy Suzuki, a neuroscientist at NYU, states that anxiety can be a powerful tool when taught how to use it. She adds that it can help prepare, be more caring, and even more creative. The key point is to pay attention to what anxiety is signaling and then use that energy to act or deal with problems.

Of course, not all anxiety feels good, and sometimes it can be overwhelming. But by understanding the positive side and using strategies to manage it, start to see anxiety as a tool, not just a problem. This way, anxiety becomes something to work with, not just something to fight against. Sophomore at Ponte Vedra High School Eva Stoleru explains, “When I feel a lot of anxiety over something, I usually take a deep breath and look at the bigger picture, it helps me not be so hyper-focused on something irrelevant.” Oftentimes, anxiety can be about small things that don’t have a big effect on lives; this is when anxiety can be bad for overall health. Focusing too much on little details and things that are not important can take focus away from other things; this is where good anxiety steps in. When starting to see anxiety as a warning instead of just a problem, it becomes easier to handle. By paying attention to what anxiety is trying to say, it’s easy to use it to help growth and achieve goals.

Understanding that anxiety isn’t always a bad thing can change the way to approach challenges in our lives. By recognizing its positive side, use anxiety as a tool to push forward, rather than something that holds one back. Realizing the benefits of good anxiety helps to see it as a healthy component to everyday lives. When we use good anxiety to help prepare, focus, and care more deeply, it becomes a positive force that helps success in the things that matter most.

Graphic By: Aden Seelbinder