Part 2/8:
Rabbi Jacobson begins by clarifying the difference between clinical anxiety and the more common, everyday feelings of worry or tension. Clinical anxiety, which may involve biochemical imbalances, often requires professional intervention, medication, or therapy. Such anxiety can impair decision-making, lead to impulsiveness, or even depression, and should be addressed under medical supervision.
However, the focus of his discussion is on healthy, controllable anxiety, a natural part of life that can serve as a driving force rather than a destructive one. This form of anxiety arises from the human condition—our longing, striving, and yearning for more.