Does Everyone Have AnxietY? The ten laws that You Should Know.

Does everyone have anxiety, or are you the only one struggling with constant worry?

You've probably noticed how anxiety seems everywhere lately—in social media posts, casual conversations, even memes—making you wonder if what you're experiencing is just part of being human or something that needs attention.

The good news!

Everyone experiences anxiety to some degree -it's a fundamental emotion, and it's prevalence is increasing.

However, there are hidden "laws" that control how it manifests in your life, and the extent to which you follow these rules is the key to knowing if your anxiety is impacting your daily living and warrant it being labeled a mental health condition.

This guide reveals exactly how to distinguish between normal human worry and anxiety that's hijacked your life, giving you the clarity you've been searching for.

So Does Everyone Have Anxiety? Here's What You'll learn

• The 10 Laws of Anxiety: Rules We Follow - Discover the unconscious patterns keeping you trapped in worry cycles

• The Difference Between Normal Anxiety and Anxiety Disorders - Finally understand where you fall on the anxiety spectrum

• When to Seek Help - Clear guidelines on when professional support becomes necessary

Your Los Angeles Anxiety Therapist.

I'm Oliver and I'm a clinical psychotherapist. I've been helping people with excessive anxiety and constant worry for nearly a decade. My new anxiety treatment program in Los Angeles is launching soon, and I can't wait to share more about how i help and the way i work.

The Evolutionary Purpose of Anxiety

Survival instinct: From an evolutionary standpoint, anxiety plays a crucial protective role. Our ancestors who paid attention to potential dangers were more likely to survive and pass on their genes.

This "better safe than sorry" approach helped humans detect threats quickly and respond with appropriate caution.

Over time, our anxiety system extended beyond physical dangers to include social and emotional risks—like rejection or public embarrassment.

Social threats: This explains why many people feel anxious in social settings or when facing judgment. It's not irrational; it's your brain working to protect you from what it perceives as a threat to your social standing.

The 10 Laws of Anxiety: Rules People With Anxiety Disorders Follow.

Understanding anxiety means recognizing the unconscious rules it makes us follow that are present in any type of anxiety disorder. In my work as an Anxiety Therapist in Los Angeles, I often describe these as "laws" or "rules" that keep us trapped in cycles of worry.

To find out the rules of anxiety that you follow as well as how much and what type of anxiety take our free quiz.

The quiz doesn't just give you a label; it reveals your anxiety's hidden playbook. In just a few minutes, you’ll uncover the specific "rules" and the personal archetype that drive your patterns, giving you the clarity to finally break them.

Here are five of the most universal ones that might be controlling your relationship with anxiety and behind some irrational fears, anxiety attacks and general stressors.

1. The Demand for Control and Certainty

This law operates on the belief that we need to be 100% certain about everything to feel safe. It's like having an "internal Janet Jackson, constantly reminding you that 'it's all about control,'" as one therapist puts it.

This rule convinces us that "if you lose control and allow uncertainty into any part of your life even a moment, disaster will follow."

This explains why you might:

• Check your alarm three times before bed

• Mentally rehearse conversations before they happen

• Spend hours researching the "perfect" choice for even minor decisions

• Feel completely undone when plans change unexpectedly

The paradox is that the tighter we grip for control, the more anxious we become when inevitably something falls outside our control. Breaking this rule means gradually practicing tolerance for uncertainty—recognizing that most of life exists in the gray areas between absolute certainty and complete chaos.

2. The Constant Threat Imperative

This rule operates like an overactive smoke detector, constantly alerting you to danger that isn't actually present. It's "like anxiety is constantly shouting at you, 'Run, Forest, Run!'" convincing you that danger lurks everywhere and escape is your only option.

Under this rule:

• Normal bodily sensations (like a racing heart rate) become warning signals of impending doom

• Everyday places (grocery stores, elevators, meetings) feel threatening especially in social situations.

• The brain learns that escape provides immediate relief, reinforcing avoidance

• Your world gradually shrinks as more situations feel unsafe

Breaking this rule requires gradually facing feared situations and staying long enough to discover that the predicted catastrophe doesn't actually occur.

3. The Law of Inadequacy

This powerful law convinces you that you lack the internal resources to handle challenges. It's "like anxiety is Jack Nicholson in A Few Good Men, screaming at you: 'YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH!'" It makes you forget your own capabilities and past successes.

This rule manifests as:

• Avoiding new opportunities, like public speaking, a new role at work because you "probably can't handle it"

• Doubting your ability to cope with difficult emotions

• Underestimating your resilience in the face of setbacks

• Forgetting that you've already survived 100% of your worst days

Breaking this law means recognizing what some therapists call "The First Day of School Illusion"—remembering how terrified you were on your first day of school, but by the third week, you couldn't even remember why you were scared. Your track record of getting through difficult situations is actually perfect so far.

4. The Comparison Contract

This subtle rule tricks you into believing "everyone else is doing better than you." It's especially powerful in our social media age, where we constantly view others' highlight reels.

Under this contract:

• You believe others are thriving while you're merely surviving

• Every social media post becomes evidence of your inadequacy

• You judge your messy reality against others' curated presentations

• Your self-worth gets "run over by the algorithm"

I often tell clients in my private practice, "The Comparison Contract doesn't tell you, that you know on some deep level already—you're comparing your behind-the-scenes to someone else's highlight reel."

Breaking this contract means recognizing that no one posts their therapy sessions or pre-brunch meltdowns with hashtags like "I'm a mess."

5. The Worry is the Solution Paradox

This deceptive rule convinces you that worrying actually protects you from bad outcomes. It's "a bit of magical thinking like worrying about something prevents it from happening."

Worry is the theme of most cases of generalized anxiety disorder, and often in social anxiety disorder.

This paradox works because:

• Excessive worry provides a false sense of control that feels relieving

• It creates the illusion of problem-solving without actual action

• It confuses thinking about solutions with implementing them

• It keeps you "stewing, not doing"

When caught in this paradox, your mind is like "xoxo mental gossip girl—full of drama and sordid details but without a shred of truth." Breaking this rule means distinguishing between productive problem-solving and unproductive rumination, asking yourself: "Am I stewing or doing?"

The Difference Between Normal Anxiety and Anxiety Disorders

While anxiety itself is universal, the various types of anxiety disorders are not.  Worry is a very natural part of you, the tendency to worry, a very natural response of yours to run or fight or brace and avoid." However, anxiety disorders and some panic disorders develop when this natural tendency becomes excessive and begins to significantly interfere with daily life.

Anxiety disorders take this normal human experience and amplify it to a level where it becomes persistent, overwhelming, and disruptive.

Globally, about 4% of the population suffers from an anxiety disorder at any given time, with higher rates in certain regions. In the United States, approximately 19% of adults experience an anxiety disorder each year.

How Anxiety Manifests Differently Across Individuals

While everyone experiences anxiety, how it manifests can vary dramatically from person to person. I point out that people with generalized anxiety disorder, for instance, might experience a lot of physical arousal...tension in the stomach, headaches, feeling jittery all day. Others might primarily experience racing thoughts, sleep disturbances, or avoidance behaviors.

These differences emerge from a complex interplay of factors including:

1. Genetics: Some people are genetically predisposed to experience anxiety more intensely.The most genetically predetermined anxiety disorder that we know of now is OCD, while the most genetically determined personality trait is shyness.

2. Brain chemistry: Variations in neurotransmitter systems can affect how strongly we respond to potential threats.

3. Past experiences: Previous traumas or learning experiences shape our anxiety responses.

4. Personality: Some people naturally have higher "trait anxiety" as part of their temperament.

   

For everyday anxiety, there are numerous effective self-management strategies:

1. Recognize anxiety as information asking yourself whether your anxiety is "signal or noise." Is it alerting you to something that genuinely needs your attention, or is it background static?

2. Mindfulness practices: Learning to observe anxious thoughts without judgment can help reduce their power.

3. Relaxation techniques: Simple breathing exercises can help manage the physical symptoms of anxiety.

4. Challenging anxious thoughts: Examining the evidence for and against worrisome predictions.

5. Regular exercise: Physical activity can significantly reduce anxiety levels.

   
   

For anxiety disorders, professional treatment approaches include:

1. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Helps identify and change thought patterns that lead to anxiety.

2. Exposure therapy: Gradually facing feared situations to build tolerance.

3. Medication: For some people, anti-anxiety medications or antidepressants may be helpful.

4. Acceptance-based approaches: Learning to accept uncertainty rather than fighting against it.

   
   
   
   

When to Seek Help

While everyone experiences anxiety, knowing when to seek professional help is important.

Consider reaching out to a mental health professional if:

• Your anxiety persists for weeks or months without improvement

• Anxiety interferes with work, relationships, or daily activities

• You experience panic attacks

• You find yourself avoiding important activities due to anxiety

• You use alcohol or drugs to manage anxious feelings

• You experience thoughts of harming yourself

  
  

Embracing a New Relationship with Anxiety

Rather than asking "does everyone have anxiety?" perhaps a better question is "how can I develop a healthier relationship with my anxiety?" By understanding anxiety as a universal human experience, we can approach it with greater self-compassion.

The goal isn't to eliminate anxiety entirely but to change our relationship with it. By learning to accept uncertainty and discomfort as part of life, we can reduce the power anxiety holds over us and move toward greater psychological flexibility.

Remember that while anxiety is universal, suffering from overwhelming anxiety is not inevitable. With the right understanding and tools, we can learn to work with our anxiety rather than against it—turning what feels like our greatest weakness into a source of resilience and growth.

Find out more about our treatment program and anxiety group therapy service.