If a person is knowingly hiking in an area notorious for deadly snakes, their brain will be on high alert, scanning for any signs a snake is near. It’s called selective attention and is crucial for our survival.

However, selective attention works against us when it comes to anxiety.

For example, if we struggle with panic attacks, it’s likely our brain is constantly scanning the body for any changes in body sensations. Because bodies are constantly changing and naturally “noisy,” inevitably the brain will notice changes and interpret them as threats.

Selective attention can also occur with our thoughts. We can scan our brains for any unwanted thoughts. As we do so, the more likely we will notice them and the more likely they will occur.

Selective attention starts to paint a very dark, biased picture of the world. As we increasingly scan for danger, the world slowly becomes a very dangerous place.

Addressing our anxiety is very brave. It requires us to practice letting our guard down. In the short term, this increases the feeling of being in harm’s way. In the long run, we train the brain to allow all information in, including information that indicates we’re safe.