'Anxiety is not the enemy': NYU neurologist explains how uncomfortable emotions can become your strength

For years, anxiety has been viewed as a mental health villain, a disruptive force that must be eliminated at all costs. NYU neuroscientist and author Dr. Wendy Suzuki wants people to rethink that belief. In a recent conversation with Jay Shetty on the Jay Shetty Podcast, a clip of which was shared on Instagram, she offered a refreshing perspective: anxiety is a normal human emotion that can act as a guide rather than a threat.

Rethinking Anxiety: A Protective Ally
Dr. Suzuki pointed out that anxiety exists on a spectrum. In the podcast clip, she explained that everyone experiences anxiety in daily life, and that this emotion becomes clinical only when it interferes with basic functioning such as work, relationships, or regular activities. She said that anxiety is fundamentally a protective mechanism that evolved to keep humans alert and safe.

She told Jay Shetty, as reported in the Instagram clip, that the goal should be to pull individuals away from the most extreme end of the anxiety spectrum and help them engage with anxiety in healthier ways.

Finding the Hidden Gifts in Discomfort
The NYU neurologist believes uncomfortable emotions often signal something meaningful. In the post, she invited viewers to consider a shift in mindset. Instead of battling anxiety, she encouraged people to explore what it might be trying to teach them. According to her, anxiety can offer what she referred to as “gifts or superpowers,” helping individuals become more aware, cautious, and emotionally resilient.

Anxiety has become one of the most commonly discussed mental health challenges in the modern world. Social media often labels any distress as a disorder, creating fear around a universal human feeling. Dr. Suzuki’s message, reported from the podcast, acts as a reminder that feeling anxious is not a sign of failure or weakness. It may indicate that the mind is working hard to protect and guide the body.

Dr. Wendy Suzuki is a professor at the New York University Center for Neural Science and currently serves as the Dean of NYU’s College of Arts & Science. Her research explores neuroplasticity and the science of memory. She is also the author of the bestselling book Healthy Brain, Happy Life, which focuses on activating the brain through lifestyle changes.

Learning to Work With Your Emotions
Through her work, Dr. Suzuki emphasizes that building a healthier relationship with anxiety begins with understanding it. Her advice to listeners in the Jay Shetty Podcast is clear: listen to your body instead of silencing it. Anxiety may feel uncomfortable, yet acknowledging it can become a powerful step toward emotional wellbeing.

As she put it in the podcast clip shared on Instagram, there is a lot we can learn from anxiety if we stop fighting it and start paying attention.