Ever felt your heart race before a big pitch in Bangkok or those all-nighters pulling an assignment in Delhi? 🤯 That's anxiety, and it's more than just butterflies in your stomach.
In a recent Health Talk episode exploring International OCD Awareness Week, Dr. Wang Zhen, vice president of the Shanghai Mental Health Center on the Chinese mainland, explains why anxiety isn't the enemy but a survival tool wired into us to keep us on our toes.
Myth-busting 101:
- Anxiety ≠ Weakness: Think of it like your phone's low-battery alert—it nudges you to recharge and refocus.
- Avoidance Backfires: Sure, skipping that lecture or dodging a tough convo feels good short-term, but the stress only grows louder later.
- Rituals vs Recovery: Repetitive habits (like endless checking or tapping) might calm you momentarily, but they can trap you in a loop that leads to OCD down the road.
Next-gen therapies: Dr. Wang's team is mixing talk therapy, medication, and neurostimulation—using mild electrical or magnetic pulses to reset your brain's alarm dial. They've even explored deep brain stimulation (DBS), where tiny electrodes deliver small currents to targeted areas to ease symptoms.
Stress is everywhere—from grabbing masala chai in Mumbai to hustling at a Manila start-up—but facing anxiety can fuel your growth. 💪 As Dr. Wang says, "Dance with anxiety with an open mind so you can choreograph the splendid moves of your life." 💃🕺
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
