When we experience fear in a specific situation, we will never forget it.  This is how efficient our natural “security/defense system” is.  In a real-life dangerous situation, by being able to recall past events and remembering the vivid emotions in those events, we would be better prepared to avoid those situations.  Unfortunately, with anxiety disorders, we apply the same sense of “learned urgency” to our perceived dangerous situations, that are not dangerous at all.

One example I experienced myself happened over a span of many years (approx. 10 yrs).  I have never necessarily enjoyed going to any type of stadium; sporting events, concerts, shows, etc.  For me personally I didn’t like to travel there, I didn’t like the large crowds, and my seats were usually in the nosebleed section, there was nothing about the experience of getting there and getting home as a whole that didn’t cause higher levels of anxiety in me.  Even still, on occasion, I would find myself attending some type of event.

One time I was invited to a sporting event, and I accepted.  Not knowing the venue or where the seats were, I had no idea where I would be sitting or what to expect.  When we arrived, we kept taking escalators up – and up, and up….!  As we climbed higher, so did my anxiety levels.  By the time we got to our section, I was very anxious.

Walking through the entrance tunnel and seeing the stadium from a higher perspective, I started to panic.  I had to walk back into the main corridor and allow the panic to pass.  I didn’t have many choices, either I try to get home alone, or I go in and deal with it.  I chose to go in and get through the night.  Which I did, and I was able to get to my seat, where I stayed until it was time to leave.  All in all, it was a tough night, but I got through it.

Years later I was given tickets to the same event, in the same seats, and I accepted.  At this point, I had been working on recovery, and I had made some great strides in overcoming several anxious situations (mostly driving & bridges), so I was feeling confident and thought I would test out my recovery and see what happens.

As my previous experience at this venue, the higher I climbed to get to my section, the higher my anxiety levels climbed as well.  It was certainly a “better” experience, as the levels were not as high, but still noticeable.

When I made it to my section, I walked out and saw the stadium again, and approaching the stairs (leading down at his point) to my seat, I had a panic attack.  I froze.  I wanted to run so badly, but again I didn’t really have the option to.  And I was embarrassed to admit that I was scared to go down these stairs.

At this point in my recovery, I was very familiar with using tools.  I knew the fear was irrational and I knew I had to do something to break the cycle of fear and break my thought pattern.  So I reached out and grabbed the handrail.  Just engaging my sense of touch, and feeling the railing, my anxiety levels dropped dramatically.

Once I got to my seat I began using additional tools.  I was counting various things that I could see around the stadium.  I stayed engaged in conversation with the person I was with.  In other words, I was trying to ignore my anxious thoughts and focus on what was real, not my “twisted, distorted fantasy”.

I ended up enjoying the event.  I made several trips to the concession stand.  By the time I left, I had no anxiety or fear of walking up & down those stairs or that venue in general.

But the point of the story is my initial reaction when I went back the second time.  Even though my anxiety levels were lower through getting to the section where my seat was, my reaction was more powerful once I got to the location where I had experienced panic previously.

My “security/defense system” (anxiety) remembered that it deemed that specific location as dangerous once before, and therefore in an attempt to save me from danger, it triggered a panic attack.

But using tools & techniques I was able to manage my fear, and ultimately enjoyed the event.

Recently, I went to a concert at a different venue.  And throughout the entire process of getting there and getting to my seat, I was aware of my thoughts and I used tools & techniques as needed so I didn’t allow my anxiety levels to continue past an initial thought.  To get to this seat was very similar in that they were in the nosebleed section, and I ultimately had to walk downstairs to get to my seat.  This time I had very little anxiety and was able to fully enjoy the show.

We can learn to manage our anxiety.  We can create a new conditioning for our trigger situations.  The progression of my own experiences as I shared above demonstrates this.

Employ the use of tools & techniques.  Practice them.  Keep them handy.  Use them when necessary.  And have confidence in them that they work.

Never give up!  Persistence!