It’s interesting to note that a little anxiety is necessary for us to be able to enjoy a tickling touch. When they were young, my children would often ask me to tickle them at bed-time. They thought it was great fun because they were never sure where I’d tickle them, but they always knew I would stop when they asked.

Too much anxiety, though, takes the fun out of tickling and the fun out of life. Being anxious drains us of emotional and physical energy. Anxiety is always tied to our lack of knowledge about the future. It’s about the bad things that we anticipate happening.

Often, the anxious anticipation is worse than the thing we fear itself. For many of us, visiting the dentist falls into that category, or waiting for a diagnosis from the doctor. It’s often easier to bear the bad news itself than to bear waiting for it.

In extreme cases, anxiety can overwhelm a person, leaving them unable to cope with life. These situations need professional intervention, often employing the use of drugs for a period of time.

For Reflection:

• It’s normal to feel anxious about impending problems from time to time. What kinds of things produce anxiety in you?
• What is your response to anxiety? Do you have a healthy mechanism for dealing with it so that it doesn’t overwhelm you?