"出生行为是第一种焦虑体验，因此是焦虑情绪的来源和原型。"

Anxiety starts for us the moment we're born. Imagine that - your first moments in this world are wrapped up in a whirlwind of unfamiliar sensations, sounds, and lights. It’s the first time you feel anxiety, and it sets the stage for how you'll experience it throughout your life.

Think about it. You’re in a cozy, warm place, essentially floating in a world where your every need is taken care of without even asking. Then suddenly, you're thrust into a blindingly bright room, surrounded by strange noises, and your body has to start functioning in a completely new way. This intense, overwhelming shift is anxiety in its rawest form.

Sigmund Freud, the famous psychoanalyst, believed that this original moment of anxiety – birth – is the prototype for all our future experiences of anxiety. Freud’s work in the early 20th century was groundbreaking in exploring how our early experiences shape our psychological development. Birth, being the first and most drastic change we encounter, becomes the template for how we react to anxiety-inducing situations later on. In Freud's view, every subsequent anxious moment is a shadow of that first traumatic transition.

To see this idea in real life, consider the journey of a young child starting school for the first time. They leave the comfort of their home and their parents' constant presence to enter a bustling environment full of other children, loud noises, and unfamiliar routines. This scenario can be anxiety-provoking for them; it’s a significant change, much like birth, where they have to adapt to a new reality. This experience can be a direct echo of the anxious feelings they had at birth – it’s the same core reaction to a big change.

How can you use this understanding in your own life? Well, for starters, recognizing that anxiety often stems from transitions and new experiences can be empowering. When you’re facing a situation that makes your heart race or your palms sweat, remind yourself: “This is just like that first big shift. It’s natural. I’ve been through this before.” You can create a sense of familiarity with anxiety, making it less intimidating.

Imagine you're about to start a new job. It's natural to feel anxious – it's a big shift, just like being born into a new environment. Instead of letting that anxiety paralyze you, acknowledge it. Think, "This is my body's way of reacting to change. It's the same process I went through at birth and many times since." This approach can help you manage your feelings more effectively, making the transition smoother.

Now, let me tell you about my friend Sarah. Sarah had always been anxious about public speaking. It made her palms sweat and her heart race. She avoided it like the plague. One day, she had no choice but to present at a big meeting. To calm herself down, she thought about the idea that anxiety is a natural response to something new and unfamiliar. She reminded herself that she'd faced many changes in her life – like moving to a new city – and had come out stronger each time. By relating her anxiety to those past experiences, she was able to feel a bit more in control. Her presentation went well, and she realized that understanding the root of her anxiety gave her the tools to manage it better.

You see, understanding where anxiety comes from – that it starts from our very first moments of life – can be a powerful tool. It helps us see anxiety not as an enemy, but as a part of our natural response to change. And with that perspective, we can handle it better, one step at a time.