On Why Anxiety Can Be Good for You

We all experience anxiety. Regardless of how bad it can feel, anxiety is part of what makes us human and may not necessarily be a bad thing. According to psychologist, author, and anxiety researcher Tracy Dennis-Tiwary that uncomfortable feeling of uncertainty can be productive. Like stress and fear, anxiety evolved to protect us. Every time we sense a threat, a warning alarm goes off, signaling something may be about to go wrong. But while anxiety is related to stress and fear, it’s also different because it’s anchored in our ability to project ourselves into the future and take actions to make it better.  

This future orientation, which Dr. Dennis-Tiwary calls the future tense, helps us plan, envision possibilities, hope, create, and dream. But thinking about what may come can also cause us to worry. Dr. Dennis-Tiwary encourages us to read this feeling as a robust warning that our future dreams and our present realities may be out of sync. By acknowledging our anxiety and seeing it as a tool, she contends, we can use it to energize us—to motivate us to change, grow, and succeed. If we can shift our mindset, and grow more comfortable with our discomfort, anxiety can become a superpower that improves our lives. 

In Dr. Dennis-Tiwary's work and writing she addresses both generalized anxiety—which we all face—and anxiety disorders, when our anxious reactions and feelings prevent us from functioning effectively. By looking at anxiety in a new way, she gives hope to those suffering from anxiety, offering a way forward.  

Join somatic and transpersonal psychotherapist Deanna Jimenez for a conversation with Dr. Dennis-Tiwary about her latest book, Future Tense, and learn how to better manage anxiety as a way to spark creativity and joy to experience a more productive life.


Tracy A. Dennis-Tiwary, PhD, is a Professor in the Psychology Department at Hunter College, the City University of New York, and director of the Stress, Anxiety, and Resilience Research Center and the Interdisciplinary Center for Health Technology and Wellness. She received her doctoral training in clinical psychology at Pennsylvania State University and New York University. She has published over ninety scientific articles in top peer-reviewed journals and delivered over 400 presentations at academic conferences and for corporate clients. She has been featured throughout the media, including The New York Times, CBS, CNN, NPR, and Bloomberg Television. She lives in New York City.


Deanna Jimenez is a somatic/transpersonal psychotherapist whose passion is to support those dedicating their lives to transformative movements. Deanna guides clients individually and collectively in establishing a solid mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual foundation as a pathway towards elevating collective consciousness. She is an Assistant professor in the Somatic Psychology department at CIIS and has a private practice supporting individuals, couples, and organizations.


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