Anticipation of Unknown Danger

 
There was no imagining danger, no fearing it would reveal its hideous self. Danger was a given. And the others now felt as she had, always on guard, in anticipation of unknown danger, confused, and fearful. Amy Tan in Saving Fish from Drowning
 

Do you sometimes feel like you are living in a world completely different than that of your peers and friends? That you seem to live in a world where living is fraught with danger, and caution must be exercised at all times, like you’re living in a dangerous jungle? And as you’re living in the jungle, you watch your friends and colleagues navigate the world without any awareness of the hidden dangers? Living with anxiety, depression, trauma, and other mental illnesses can feel like that. When the world around you seems dangerous, your system is indeed living a different reality: it’s on guard, confused, and fearful. If you’ve ever experienced that, what is it like? Is there anything you wish others could know about what it’s really like to live in the jungle?

If you would like to explore these ideas further in therapy, please contact us to schedule a free consultation.

Asian AmericanJi Eun KoComment