TAMING ANXIETY

Anxiety Distorts Our Self-Image

How can we reclaim our sense of self?

Paul JD
2 min readAug 9, 2024

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a forest’s reflection on rippling water
Photo by Joshua Reddekopp on Unsplash

When a lake reflects a landscape, light rays scatter as the water’s surface stirs. We are presented with an altered image, one that differs from its source. The reshaped image can be just as beautiful, but it may be unrecognizable.

When viewing our own reflection from rippling water, we see a distorted image of ourself. We are presented with an altered version of our physical form. The reflection is a representation of ourself, but it may be unrecognizable.

Fortunately, we are able to distinguish between distorted images and their sources. Reflected images of ourself and our surroundings are recognized as illusions. Our minds preserve the source of their reflections.

Anxiety distorts our self-image in the same way rippling water warps the view of our physical form. It reflects a twisted expression of oneself and our situation, one that can be unrecognizable.

Anxiety has the ability to consume our senses and control our thoughts. Our rational self becomes the victim of a chemical assault, a rush of adrenaline designed to steal our focus.

As anxiety’s ripples turn to waves, our self-image submerges, disappearing under anxiety’s surface. At this point, we…

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