4 Ways Anxiety Benefits Me: An Unconventional Take

Have you considered there are benefits to anxiety? Anxiety plays a huge role in my life. My anxiety often surfaces as chronic stress and concerns about my professional life and career. While it has held me back in many instances, I can appreciate some of the ways in which anxiety benefits me. 

4 Ways Anxiety Benefits Me

There are four benefits of anxiety I have seen. They include:

1. Anxiety encourages compassion for others -- Going through anxiety, which is often seen as an invisible illness, has given me the gift of empathizing with others dealing with similar struggles. I recognize that offering understanding and support can make a big difference to someone facing mental health issues. So, I always strive to be an active listener and provide encouragement whenever possible.
2. Dealing with anxiety increases my resilience -- The daily challenges of managing anxious thoughts and chronic worries encourage me to seek new perspectives and coping strategies. My anxiety motivates me to improve my self-care, prioritize my mental wellbeing, and focus on things that bring me joy. I believe one anxiety benefit is that I've become more resilient as a result of these experiences, as I can navigate through tough times and become stronger.
3. Anxiety enables me to solve problems in the workplace -- My particular form of anxiety leads me to overanalyze situations. I spend a lot of time reflecting on an issue before reaching a decision. While this can be overwhelming at times, I recognize that this ability to take a step back and thoroughly assess a situation is beneficial for problem-solving in work settings. For instance, this benefit of anxiety allows me to analyze new work tasks and processes and helps me anticipate and proactively address potential issues. 
4. Anxious thoughts push me to plan ahead -- Anxious thoughts push me to consider potential challenges in future events or work tasks and prepare for them. Whether it's planning a hangout with a friend, organizing my work week, or arranging a trip, my anxiety motivates me to plan ahead. While it can be frustrating to experience anxious thoughts during these times, I appreciate that planning ultimately contributes to my peace of mind, organization, and productivity. 

Are there ways in which anxiety has benefited your life? I'd like to hear your thoughts in the comments below.