Published 29 September 2026 by Martin Hamilton
In our modern hustle culture, people run around in acute anxiety, of course. There can be no doubt about that. I see within the masses that there are very few people who really understand anxiety.
Holding onto anxiety runs into other problems. They exist with the ego and the onslaught of an overload of fear, that’s for sure, yet I believe that once you understand anxiety, the dilemma of not being able to deal with it properly will go away with that day’s sunset.
There are rare cases where the brain and/or body is undergoing chemical imbalances and creating moods that bring anxiety, but mostly anxiety is a natural response in the body that can be regulated and controlled deliberately, and chronic anxiety is self inflicted and easily solved, if you know how.
Larry was an engineer at Boeing, uncallused hands, unmuscled frame, no tan, an indoor person, an office guy not at the top of the tree but a long way from the bottom. Somewhere in his mid – 40s. A solid achiever, but not a superstar.
He always wore black pants, a light blue or light gray long sleeve collared shirt, and black leather shoes, always perfectly shined. Like a uniform.
It was a Friday morning and pressed for time. He knew by the end of the day he had to get the EVA (Engineer Variation Authorization) completed. It was for United Airlines, and it was a repair to the body structure in front of the aft cargo door on a Boeing 777. United technicians worked through the weekend, so there were no buffer days using the weekend for him to use for a delay. And the world knows the trouble that airliners have had with cargo doors.
As Larry sat in his swivel desk chair, his brain was vibrating with the memory of the incident of United Airlines Flight 811 having a cargo door blow off at about 22,000 feet on February 24, 1989 on a Boeing 747. The United flight was coming out of Honolulu. One passenger was even engulfed in the number three engine that horrible evening.
Larry remembered back to when cigarettes were allowed in the office. He had a flashback of his desk ashtray, and he imagined it full. He quit smoking seven and a half years ago and land sakes he could use one now.
On his desk sat a massive, three-ring binder titled Boeing Design Manual, held open with a heavy steel bracket to prevent the pages from flipping. Instead of a regular mouse, his hand rests on a sleek, metallic 3D navigation joystick like a “space mouse” used to rotate complex aircraft parts on screen with precise movements.
Larry sat at his work desk at the regular starting time of 8 am, and it was already 9:17. While opening his EVA worksheet program, he felt his heart palpitate, almost like skipping a beat. The anxiety was getting worse. His doctor had talked to Larry about getting more exercise and improving the health aspects of his diet. Larry knew what foods to eat, but denying the donuts with his coffee and the candy bars at every break was a tough habit to break. Proper food was what he needed so his blood sugar would stay consistent without the spikes and severe drops.
Two hours passed, and Larry had made substantial progress. He had finished the first draft and submitted it to the Engineering Department EVA manager for review. While awaiting the critique, Larry was still experiencing the feeling of an anxiety attack when he remembered a book he had read on the topic eight months earlier. A book that helped him tremendously during a time when he thought he might be laid off because of a downturn in demand in the aviation industry and when the rival company Airbus, with its European roots, was increasing their aircraft orders from airlines around the world. Airbus certainly had a fine aircraft, but Boeing was still holding on to its long and respected reputation, one starting July 15, 1916, when William E. Boeing incorporated the Pacific Aero Products Company in Seattle, Washington. The company was renamed the Boeing Airplane Company in 1917.
Digging through the bottom right hand drawer of his desk he uncovered the book. Its cover was bent out of shape from the items on top of it, but he could clearly read the title The Anxiety Opportunity. A book written by Chris Chang. Larry had suffered for years from social and work anxiety, something that affected his daily life. Finally, he found a book that combines solid psychological knowledge on anxiety and practical advice. And it’s written by someone who’s been in the trenches and knows what severe anxiety is like.
Larry turned to his notes in the back of the book and reflected on the principles and roots of anxiety from the author. Immediately he felt a downfall in his anxiety attack and could stave off the addiction call for a junk food stint in the vending machine breakroom.
If you haven’t read The Anxiety Opportunity, I invite you to look at it.
One of the main points I found in the book is understanding the formula: Anxiety = Loss x Avoidance. Once you get that down, you’ve got a pathway to deal with anxiety attacks for good. One caveat is if your anxiety is medically related, and that’s where you need to consult with lab tests through your physician and take the prescribed medication.
As Larry was rereading The Anxiety Opportunity, his phone rang. Larry picked up the landline receiver and said, “Hello.” It was the Engineering Department’s EVA manager on the other end. “Okay, I’ll make those changes and get it back to you within the hour,” said Larry.
He got those changes in and the order was sent to United Airlines Maintenance Department for work that could be started that afternoon, saving them precious hours that the aircraft could have remained on the ground making no revenue.
If Larry hadn’t remembered the book and not brought back the knowledge of what anxiety is and how to handle it then he could’ve possibly started smoking again and certainly harmed his health by not abstaining from the unneeded food he would have put into his body.
Larry left his desk that afternoon feeling gratified and thankful for his ability, and saw a colleague to whom he recommended the book on his way out. Larry even stopped by the local health club on the way home after phoning his wife. The anxiety attack pushed the importance for him to deal with his health in a stricter manner, and he signed up for an annual membership. What a day, he thought, as he pulled into his driveway feeling strong gratitude and love for his work and life. You can overcome anxiety and improve your life quickly, much like Larry did, and today is that day!
Related content: