Why is anxiety like a dog?

There are more than just 5 reasons why anxiety is like a dog but let’s start with the basics!

My dogs will bark if they hear the doorbell go off.  They are aware there is someone there but they don’t know who it is so assume that it is dangerous.

Anxiety is just the same.  It will assume that anything unknown is risky and will alert you so that that risk does not take you unawares

When my dogs are barking at that person they cant see ringing the door bell, they are fully primed.  They are fully focused and wont get distracted, their bodies are ready to either run or fight and their senses are working at their optimum.

This is nature’s way of optimising survival by filling their bodies with adrenalin to fuel the fight or flight response – nature’s most primitive survival instinct.

And that is exactly what the chemical reaction we have in our bodies that we call anxiety.  It is adrenalin that turns the tummy into a washing machine, makes your palms sweaty and improves your sight and hearing – just what you need if there is risk behind that door!

I have walked past many a dog owner standing with an empty lead in their hands whilst it is the dog who decides when the walk is over.  Until then, they continue doing exactly what they want to do.

My dogs however have no doubt about who is boss and ‘come’ means now!

Anxiety is just the same.  If you don’t establish who is boss, it will take that leadership position and you will be dancing to it’s tune.

I liken my anxiety to a well trained police dog.  Most of them time it just walks along beside me and is a loyal companion.  And having that faithful German Shephard (other breeds welcomed) beside me gives me confidence and a sense of strength that should danger appear, it is going to be there to support me.

If however you dont train your dog, you never quite know what it is going to do next or what is around the corner!

My dogs sleep downstairs.  I know in bed, I am safe and so I have no role for them to protect me – and in fact, the best protection they can provide for me is to be downstairs where they will alert me if something is array – see point 1!

Anxiety also has no need to be tucked up with you and if you do take it to bed, it will disturb your sleep just like a farting, fidgety hound would!  Go to bed knowing that if there is real risk – like someone breaking into your house – anxiety will wake you up and put you in that heightened state of alert to react most effectively to that real risk.

It is never too late to start training a dog. And it is also never too late to start training your anxiety.

Yes, it takes time, effort and practice.  A dog does not learn to sit straight away. It takes repetition and patience.  But once a dog learns to sit, it learns to lie down on command quicker.  It then learns to stay even quicker – every lesson makes the next skill easier to pick up.

To get your anxiety under control so that it responds to your command, you start with the basics and go from there.

And if you need a trainer to help you train your anxiety, just get in touch!

Caroline Cavanagh is an anxiety specialist  and hypnotherapist in Salisbury, Wiltshire.  She is an author and professional speaker and would love to talk to you if you would like to know more about her work