The Evolution of Anxiety
By Jordan Lascuola
Have you ever wondered why it is that our body presents symptoms of anxiety to us in strange ways? Well generally, the answer mostly comes from the biology of evolution. Scientists since Charles Darwin have been exploring why nature can be the explanation for many changes to all the species on Earth over time and may be able to answer some of our questions about how our own body processes emotions and feelings as well.
What Does Darwin's Theory of Evolution Have to Do with Anxiety?
The history of evolution as a whole, started when Darwin first theorized that birds in the Galapagos Islands tended to change and shift over time to better suit their environment and needs. In particular, he studied finches and their beaks. Over time, he came to the conclusion that the differences in beak formation and variation among the species of finches on the island changed based on the function of the beak itself. Over the last 85 million years, humans have been doing the same thing. Through the process of our environments selecting for variations based on our needs, we have generally survived as a species. This is how evolution works. Essentially, it maintains that while processes change to accommodate for the environment, it also ensures that future generations of humans carry those same variations with them to ensure the generations after them also survive.
How Does Anxiety Help Us Survive?
When we can imagine anxiety functioning in our normal everyday lives for survival, it accounts that every human and every variation of the primates that came before us, also had anxiety. When survival is the function, our bodies have developed to accommodate our survival needs. Think about how you might experience anxiety regularly.
Heart racing,
Weak in the knees,
Palms clammy,
Brow sweaty,
Nausea,
All of these and more have explanations from Evolutionary processes of survival.
Why Did Our Ancestors Need Anxiety?
When our brain activates to a threat that otherwise it is averse to or wishes to avoid, it sends us messages and rules based on how to go about avoiding the scary thing that activated it in the first place. Our ancestors are a good place to start for this example. About 1.8 million years ago, our ancestors for the most part were hunter-gatherers, before the introduction and knowledge of cultivation and crop growing. Imagine that 2 of our ancestors are out gathering their favorite blackberries from their favorite blackberry bramble. Out from the bramble pops the head of black bear who is also rather fond of blackberries. With a grumble, it sends our ancestors running for their lives. Thinking about their experience in the moment, we know they were also feeling the same heart racing, weakness in the knees, palm clammy anxiety that we also experience. Physiologically, our ancestors were experiencing the same dump of epinephrine (adrenaline), norepinephrine, and cortisol that we experience when our brain enters the threat response. In the past, these responses helped us to run faster, be more flexible, and respond more quickly than that of other animals. Fast forward to today. It's not often or frequently that we have to manage our response around black bears, but rather our emotions, feelings, memories, and thoughts that make up our experience now. This may be specific traumas that you have experienced, phobias of day to day living, or maybe that test coming up on Thursday that you haven't started to study for.
What Can You Do When Anxiety Becomes Too Much?
While it's not our fault that anxiety is a normal and natural occurrence for humans, you may begin to experience these anxieties in excess and they may begin to start affecting how you show up to the moments in life that truly matter to you. If this sounds like you, there may be a few places to start.
Utilizing applications like Calm, Headspace, or other mindfulness based strategies,
Talking with a trusted faith leader in your community
Talking with your doctor about the anxiety you've been experiencing
Starting therapy with a modality like Acceptance and Commitment therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or Internal Family Systems to explore anxiety
Begin Anxiety Therapy in Columbia, MO
If anxiety is getting in the way of the life you want to live, you don't have to figure it out alone. At Aspire Counseling, we offer anxiety treatment in Columbia, Missouri and online throughout the state. Our therapists are trained in evidence-based approaches like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), CBT, and IFS to help you understand your anxiety and move toward what matters most to you.
Ready to take the first step? Reach out today to schedule a free 30-minute consultation. We'll talk about what you're experiencing and help you find the right therapist for your needs.
Call us at 573-328-2288 or visit our contact page to get started.
About the Author
Jordan Lascuola is a therapist at Aspire Counseling in our Columbia, Missouri counseling office. He specializes in helping teens and adults navigate anxiety, trauma, depression, and major life transitions using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). With over 10 years of experience as a clinician and graduate student using ACT, Jordan is a member of the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science. He is LGBTQ+ and neurodivergent-affirming and values honesty, vulnerability, and exploration in his work with clients ages 14 and older. Jordan offers therapy in person at Aspire Counseling's Columbia office and online throughout Missouri.
