A Story About Anxiety
A Story About Anxiety
Psuchological Information Services
Imagine that… you are peacefully walking in the woods. It’s a beautiful day with a warm sun shining down, soothingly embracing your face. There’s a cool breeze gently caressing your body while it rustles through the brightly colored crisp leaves
The rustling is such a delicious sound that it almost lulls you into a reverie of hypnotic delight. A simply splendid afternoon walk has left you intoxicated with the autumn smells.
Then, off in the distance through the rustling sound of the leaves you hear an ominous howl. Instantly
Instantly, You Think,
Its the cry of a wolf
Your senses sharpen as you’re brought out of your peaceful state of reverie by the ever-increasing volume of “The Cry.” “It’s getting closer,” you think! The adrenaline is now flowing as your heart quickens and your palms begin to perspire.
You think of the utterly “stupid” notion of ever walking in the woods alone, and vow never to do it again, anything not to experience this feeling again. At that thought you begin to run. The direction doesn’t much matter as long as it is away from the frightening cry. Panic sets in as you run faster and faster only to hear steps coming closer from behind you. You are almost beside yourself as you run, with an ever-increasing sense of doom mounting. Out of your fear and lost ability to concentrate, and as you look for the closest tree to climb you trip on a fallen branch.
What was once a gentle breeze rustling through the leaves suddenly becomes the source of footsteps stalking you through the woods. What was once a leisurely afternoon hike becomes a perilous escape from a very dangerous predator. Your mind begins to race thinking of the disastrous consequences of being caught defenseless by a pack of wolves.
You think it’s all over as the paw presses into your back. In your last gasp of air you turn your head to stare into the eyes of your pet hound dog. With this realization (after you have a little explanatory chat with Fido), you breathe a sigh of relief and play in the leaves with your dog.
