Neurons that fire together, wire together.
If your brain fires off two neurons, or perhaps two networks of neurons, at the same time then they will begin to become wired together.
For example, when you see or think of the Nike logo, what phrase comes to mind?
“Just do it.”
These two networks, the Nike logo and the phrase “Just do it.”, get to know each other. Once intertwined they start firing together becoming a single network.
Soon, you may find that one naturally goes with the other!
How might this relate to anxiety?
Consider for a moment a young girl in school.
During show and tell she becomes nervous.
In high school when presenting to the class she becomes extremely nervous.
In her first job, she has to present in a boardroom and becomes so nervous that she begins to have a panic attack.