An in-depth study of uncertainty, emotion and the breakdown of motor control
The Anxiety Study is a rigorous scientific exploration of thought, sensation, movement and emotion in the context of uncertainty.
The work explores anxiety from several different points of view, offering practical perspectives and tools.
Anxiety in thought
Anxiety has a lot to do with what we are thinking. How we interpret our experiences plays a key role in anxiety. Over-interpretation is a strategy for managing anxiety that ironically leads to worse performance under conditions of uncertainty and pressure.
To manage this aspect of anxiety, we can learn to inhibit our tendency for verbal, explicit thought, and to refocus on our task. We may also employ learning strategies that are less reliant on cognitive understanding, such as in games and constraints led problem solving.
Anxiety in Movement
Anxiety has several effects on movement, motor control and muscle. Generally, these effects reduce degrees of freedom by stiffening muscles; resulting in movement that is less smooth and adaptive.
Muscle relaxation practices can profoundly affect how we move, feel and relate to the world; they are amongst the most effective non-pharmaceutical interventions for treating clinical anxiety.
Anxiety in Emotion
Feelings from the inside the body shape how we see the world, particularly in the context of risk and uncertainty. Anxiety is well correlated with an increase of interoceptive or emotional signals.
As Allan Schore says, to regulate an emotion we have to be in that emotion. These signals from inside the body are open to interpretation, and may benefit from gentle risk exposure, such as tree climbing, walking on walls or jumping between two points.
Anxiety in Sensation
Research suggests that two types of anxiety exist, each with distinct psychological and motor profiles. The rigid type manages uncertainty with stiff movement and precise beliefs. The lax type manages uncertainty with uncoordinated movement and novelty seeking.
These typings have different needs. Learning how to design tasks for each group affords significant insight on personalised progress.
Want to learn the Anxiety Study material? Keep an eye out for future events.
