As International OCD Awareness Week approaches (October 12–18), mental health experts are shedding light on anxiety's misunderstood role in human behavior. Dr. Wang Zhen, vice president of the Shanghai Mental Health Center, challenges common misconceptions in a recent discussion, revealing how anxiety – often vilified – serves as an evolutionary survival mechanism.
"Anxiety doesn't disappear through avoidance – confrontation breeds resolution," Dr. Wang emphasized, explaining how temporary coping strategies like repetitive actions can inadvertently fuel obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). His research team is pioneering combined therapies using psychotherapy, medication, and neurostimulation techniques including transcranial magnetic stimulation and deep brain stimulation.
While acknowledging anxiety's universal presence in modern life, Dr. Wang reframes it as a potential growth catalyst: "When we approach anxiety with openness, we transform it into life's choreography." This perspective arrives as global mental health discussions intensify, particularly regarding innovative treatments for chronic anxiety conditions.
The Shanghai-based researcher's work highlights China's growing contributions to neurological studies, offering new hope for the estimated 1 in 100 adults worldwide affected by OCD. As stress levels rise globally, understanding anxiety's dual nature becomes crucial for personal and societal well-being.
