Why Anxiety Isn’t Always What It Seems: Understanding Generalised Anxiety Disorder vs Free-Floating Anxiety
Anxiety is one of the most common mental health issues in the world—but despite how often it’s discussed, it’s also widely misunderstood.
At its core, anxiety is a response to a perceived threat to survival. It’s a built-in, instinctive system designed to keep us safe. However, this survival mechanism doesn’t always function the way it should in our modern world. And in many cases, people are misdiagnosed or treated with the wrong approach—especially when it comes to Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and Free-Floating Anxiety (FFA).
Let’s take a closer look.
Anxiety: A Misfire of Survival Instincts
Our minds are wired to keep us alive. When we’re under threat, the body activates a system known as the Fight or Flight response (with Freeze also being a part of that response).
This was incredibly useful thousands of years ago—when actual life-threatening situations were a daily occurrence. But in today’s world, our environments have evolved far faster than our biology.
Now, our minds often misidentify emotional discomfort or psychological stress as physical danger.
And when our bodies are ready to fight or flee—but there’s no actual threat or no appropriate outlet—we’re left with anxiety.
A Modern Problem With Ancient Roots
Let’s say you’re waiting to board a bus, and out of nowhere, you feel your heart race, your chest tighten, and a wave of nausea come over you. Your mind knows the situation isn’t dangerous, but your subconscious doesn’t.
You’re not about to fight the bus, and you can’t exactly run away without making things worse. So instead, your body just sits in that conflict. This inability to discharge the survival response—because there’s no real danger—is exactly where anxiety is born.
Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) vs Free-Floating Anxiety (FFA)
These two forms of anxiety are often confused—and that confusion can lead to ineffective therapy.
✅ What is GAD?
GAD occurs when a person is triggered by multiple known factors. There’s a clear connection between situation A and anxiety B. The person can usually list specific things that cause them distress.
- Example: Public speaking, deadlines, social situations, health fears.
- Benefit in therapy: We can work directly on known triggers using targeted tools.
❌ What is Free-Floating Anxiety?
FFA is very different. In this case, the person cannot clearly identify what causes their anxiety. It’s everywhere and nowhere at the same time.
- Example: A person may say, “I feel anxious all the time but I don’t know why.”
- Problem: If we try to treat FFA like GAD—by hunting down triggers—we’ll just go in circles. Today’s trigger won’t be tomorrow’s.
With FFA, anxiety isn’t attached to specific situations—it becomes a default emotional state.
Key Differences: GAD vs FFA
| GAD | FFA | |
|---|---|---|
| Trigger Awareness | High – can list specific causes | Low – triggers feel unknown |
| Symptoms | Situation-based | Chronic, global anxiety |
| Treatment Approach | Targeted trigger work (e.g., BWRT) | Base-level emotional reconditioning |
| Client Experience | “X makes me anxious” | “Everything feels dangerous” |
Symptoms of Free-Floating Anxiety
People with FFA may experience symptoms across four main areas:
1. Emotional Symptoms
- Constant fear or dread
- Feeling “on edge” all the time
- Depression and irritability
- Sense of impending doom
2. Cognitive Symptoms
- Intrusive, vague worries about safety or loss
- Poor memory and concentration
- Obsessive thoughts
3. Physical Symptoms
- Headaches, muscle tension, unexplained pains
- Digestive issues (nausea, diarrhoea, loss of appetite)
- Sleep disruption and fatigue
4. Behavioural Symptoms
- Avoidance of people, places, and responsibilities
- Procrastination and disengagement
- Withdrawal from social and family life
Treatment Options
The key to success in treating anxiety—particularly FFA—is using the right therapy for the right condition. Here’s how I help clients with both GAD and FFA:
🧠 BWRT – Abolishing Anxiety Protocol
BWRT (BrainWorking Recursive Therapy) has a protocol specifically developed for Free-Floating Anxiety.
It works by identifying your Base Driver—the deep, instinctive motivator that shapes your emotional reactions. There are 4 possible base drivers, and through a non-invasive questionnaire, we find yours.
Once identified, we run a specific series of BWRT loops to erase the fear response at its root. This method doesn’t rely on trigger identification, which makes it ideal for FFA.
- Sessions: Typically 2–6
🌀 Hypnoanalysis – Digging Up the Root
Hypnoanalysis is ideal for uncovering the original root cause of free-floating anxiety—often a childhood experience that taught the brain to be hyper-vigilant.
Here’s one common example:
A child is repeatedly warned by a worried parent not to go somewhere or do something—“Don’t go down that alley… something terrible will happen.”
But what terrible thing? It’s never explained.
The child fills in the blanks and forms a deep, undefined fear of the unknown.
As they grow up, the feeling persists—and becomes free-floating anxiety.
Hypnoanalysis helps bring these hidden memories and beliefs to light. Once they’re revealed, they can be reframed from an adult perspective and finally resolved.
- Sessions: Typically 5–12
Final Thoughts: Stop Chasing Symptoms
Too often, people with Free-Floating Anxiety are misdiagnosed with GAD and sent down the wrong treatment path. As a result, they stay stuck—chasing triggers, attending endless sessions, and never feeling truly free.
The truth is:
You can eliminate anxiety.
But first, you need to understand what kind you’re dealing with—and use the right tool for the job.
If you’re unsure which applies to you, or if you’ve tried therapy before and found it ineffective, reach out. Whether you’re local or want to work via Skype, I offer a safe and effective path forward.
You don’t have to live with anxiety.
You can overcome it—and get your life back.
To book in for a free consultation contact me here
Tim Grover - Bedfordshire Therapies 