Socially acceptable anxiety is still anxiety

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When I feel stressed about getting a job as a professor, I count up all my papers and papers-to-be in my head. One, two, three, four, five, six. “Maybe I’ll be okay,” I think. “Just gotta keep working.” And then, instead of working, I start counting again. One, two, three— When I’m around people I don’t know well, I worry a lot about going to the bathroom at the right time. Telling an acquaintance than you gotta wiz? Impossible. Much better to obsessively control your fluid intake so that you only have to pee at opportune times. “Oh, a bathroom? I couldn’t possibly, I’m not some monster who has to urinate every few hours…well, if you insist!" When I take a little too long to respond to an email or a text, I start to worry I’ve offended the other person, so instead of simply replying with an apology, I put off responding even longer. This cycle continues until the only way out is to fake my own death. The same emotion lurks underneath all of these behaviors, and I think a good word for

Socially acceptable anxiety is still anxiety Why is it fine to worry? Adam Mastroianni Nov 01, 2022 163 41 4 Share Article voiceover 0:00 -12:52 Audio playback is not supported on your browser. Please upgrade. Photo cred: my dad When I feel stressed about getting a job as a professor, I count up all my papers and papers-to-be in my head. One, two, three, four, five, six. “Maybe I’ll be okay,” I think. “Just gotta keep working.” And then, instead of working, I start counting again. One, two, three— When I’m around people I don’t know well, I worry a lot about going to the bathroom at the right

Socially acceptable anxiety is still anxiety

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