Dr. Wendy Suzuki, Neuroscientist, Professor, and Dean of the College of Arts & Science at NYU
What do you think of when you hear the word “anxiety?” Do you get a feeling of heightened alertness and that sense of doom and gloom? Anxiety is our mind’s internal warning system and it’s often characterized by fear, worry, or feelings of apprehension. When we become aware of feeling anxious, the first thing we want to do is make those uncomfortable feelings go away. But there are times when anxiety can actually work to our advantage and be a force for success, progress, and positive change in our lives. For example, in an emergency situation, anxiety could help us react faster and protect us from danger. Scientists have found that in certain situations, stress and anxiety can keep us motivated and provide an opportunity for growth or self discovery. In addition, if that sense of anxiety is triggered by worrying about all the things that might go wrong, it could also help you to be more cautious, make better decisions and be better prepared. But there are times when too much anxiety can be crippling and paralyze us with excessive worry and the inability to make a decision or take action. In those instances, our mental stress can actually cause physical symptoms such as difficulty sleeping, eating, or even breathing. Instead of allowing our anxiety to control us, wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could harness those negative feelings and turn them around to work for us?
Last year, Florine interviewed Dr. Wendy Suzuki, a successful author and neuroscientist at New York University. Her book, Good Anxiety, talks about how to take control of our anxiety. Dr. Suzuki has appeared on both “Good Morning America” and “CBS This Morning” to discuss how this can benefit us. In the past year, Dr. Suzuki has also become the Dean of NYU’s College of Arts and Sciences. If you would like more helpful tips and suggestions on how you can master your own anxiety, check out Florine’s interview and pick up a copy of the recently released paperback version of Good Anxiety.