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Lacey Bevan

Instructor Slye

English 1201

10 March 2022

What is the Solution for Anxiety

Many people across the world become anxious. Whether it is for an exam or for an

interview, every person experiences some form of anxiety. The most prevalent form of anxiety is

GAD or Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Some questions that are commonly asked are, if anxiety

is so common, then is there a cure or solution? If there is a solution, why is it not well known? Is

there more than one solution to anxiety? All of these questions are answered by many different

doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists, counselors, and religions. The real question is, which

solution works?

There is an unknown history of anxiety found in literature, science, and in the lives of

historical figures. Anxiety is found in Plato’s Symposium, the Roman Stoics who rejected any

form of “fretfulness” or anxiety, and early Christianity. While ideas about anxiety are found in

Rome, they are applied to science in the 19th and 20th centuries. Anxiety has moved from being

seen as a weakness, to a mental disorder, to an instinct to live with (Bergo). Despite the changes

in view of anxiety, the question still remains, is there a solution to anxiety?

A possible solution that is not well known is through a philosophical outlook towards

anxiety. In this lense, anxiety is seen as a part of the evolutionary process of humans and that

people need to be able to live with it. One way to look at anxiety is that it is an emotion and

passion that helps humans throughout life. The argument is that anxiety is a necessity in the life

of a human. The only problem with this solution is that anxiety has a tendency to have a negative
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impact on the ability to function (Bergo). How can a person live with anxiety when it’s hard to

follow a simple schedule due to anxiety?

One of the most commonly suggested solutions to anxiety is through cognitive behavioral

therapy or CBT. A study done in Turkey during the Covid pandemic shows that the select group

of individuals with GAD also suffered death anxiety, feeling like they had a life that was

meaningless, and a lack of psychological hardiness (Dursun). The problem that someone might

face with this solution is that their anxiety might be sparked by health issues rather than

behavioral issues.

Another potential solution to anxiety that is becoming popular is the use of psychobiotics.

Psychobiotics are defined as “microorganisms that beneficially contribute” to the gut. This just

means that the psychobiotics replenish the bacteria that antibiotics take away. This results in

better emotional behavior and healthier people (Smith). Anxiety might not just be a problem that

comes from the mind, but is a result of the lack of good bacteria in the gut.

Heather Stevens, a counselor with a master’s degree in Social Work with a focus in

mental health from Ohio State University, claims that one of the solutions to GAD is found in a

biblical phrase, “to renew our minds.” She states that even modern psychology uses this kind of

outline when applying CBT. The idea is to change a person’s perspective on their life. She also

says that some causes of GAD are a result of medical issues such as hypertension, diabetes,

hyperthyroidism and many others (Stevens).

One final solution is the application of biblical inspired principles. John MacArthur, a

renowned preacher, counselor, and chancellor at The Master’s University and Seminary, shows

in his book titled Anxiety Attacked that the solution to anxiety is found in the Bible. He claims

that people do not handle stress and traumas the right way and this in turn can lead to anxiety
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(MacArthur). A problem with this solution is that some people do not believe the Bible and they

want nothing to do with its principles due their own beliefs.

The most common misconception is that there is only one solution to anxiety. With all

the different personality types and all the different causes of anxiety, there is no one solution or

cure. Another common myth is that anxiety is just genetic. Most causes of anxiety are

environmental and situational, not passed down from previous generations (Pajer). This can

mean that most people who have anxiety get it because their circumstances and/or situations are

too overwhelming and cause a lot of stress.

Because there is no “single cure” to anxiety, there are multiple answers to the question,

“What is the solution to anxiety?” Whether anxiety is caused by a loss of good bacteria in the gut

or a fear of death and a need to have meaning in life, there is a solution. The question then

becomes, what is the cause of anxiety in each person?

Works Cited

Bergo, Bettina. Anxiety : A Philosophical History. Oxford University Press, 2021. EBSCOhost,
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https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?

direct=true&db=cat01128a&AN=scc.b2179272&site=eds-live.

Dursun, Pinar, et al. “Meaning in Life, Psychological Hardiness and Death Anxiety: Individuals

with or without Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD).” Current Psychology: A Journal

for Diverse Perspectives on Diverse Psychological Issues, January 2022, pp. 1–19.

EBSCOhost, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-021-02695-3.

MacArthur, John. Anxiety Attacked. Victor Books, 1993.

Pajer, Nicole. “What People Get Wrong about Living with Both Anxiety and Depression.”

HuffPost, HuffPost, 20 Feb. 2020, https://www.huffpost.com/entry/wrong-about-anxiety-

depression_l_5e175491c5b600960c61f641.

Smith, Kristen S., et al. “Psychobiotics as Treatment for Anxiety, Depression, and Related

Symptoms: A Systematic Review.” Nutritional Neuroscience, vol. 24, no. 12 December

2021, pp. 963–77. EBSCOhost, https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?

direct=true&db=s3h&AN=153688043&site=eds-live.

Stevens, Heather. Personal interview. 4 March 2022.