Anxiety affects decision-making and cognitive processes by interfering with how we focus, remember, and respond to information. While it’s a normal reaction to stress, ongoing anxiety can disrupt attention, problem-solving, and daily functioning—impacting work, relationships, and wellbeing.
This article explores how anxiety affects cognitive function and decision-making. By better understanding these connections, individuals and families can feel more empowered to seek appropriate support and make informed mental health decisions.
How Anxiety Affects Cognitive Function
Cognitive function encompasses a broad range of mental skills, including the ability to process information, concentrate, recall memories, and solve problems. Anxiety can interfere with these processes in both subtle and noticeable ways.
Attention and Concentration
Anxiety tends to heighten alertness to perceived threats. This can cause individuals to become overly focused on potential dangers—real or imagined—at the expense of concentrating on everyday tasks. This form of ‘attentional bias’ toward threat can make it difficult to stay engaged with work, conversations, or studies. This effect is particularly pronounced in individuals experiencing generalised anxiety or panic attacks, where physical and emotional hyperarousal can crowd out logical thought.
Working Memory and Mental Fatigue
Working memory is the ability to hold and manipulate information over short periods. When someone is anxious, their cognitive resources are often occupied by worry and self-monitoring. This can lead to forgetfulness, trouble following instructions, or a sense of ‘brain fog.’ These effects are not imagined—persistent anxiety can diminish working memory capacity, especially in high-stress situations.
Reduced Problem-Solving and Mental Flexibility
Anxiety can limit cognitive flexibility—the brain’s ability to shift thinking or consider new solutions. People may find themselves stuck in repetitive thinking patterns or unable to adapt when situations change. This rigidity can reduce confidence in one’s ability to solve problems effectively, leading to frustration or avoidance.
Decision-Making Under Anxiety
Anxiety not only affects how we think, but also how we make decisions. Even everyday choices can become difficult when influenced by excessive worry or fear of negative outcomes.
Risk Perception and Caution
Anxiety tends to amplify perceived risks. People with heightened anxiety often overestimate the likelihood or severity of something going wrong. This can lead to overly cautious or risk-averse behaviour, even in relatively safe situations. These distortions in thinking may include imagining worst-case scenarios or interpreting neutral events as threatening.
Avoidance and Indecision
Because anxiety is uncomfortable, it can lead to avoidance—both of feared situations and of making decisions altogether. This avoidance might feel like relief in the short term, but it can reinforce anxiety and undermine confidence. Avoidance is a common strategy in conditions like social anxiety and generalised anxiety disorder. Over time, it can contribute to patterns of indecision and missed opportunities.
Emotional Reasoning and Cognitive Bias
Anxiety can also lead to what psychologists call ‘emotional reasoning’—believing something is true because it feels true. For example, “I feel anxious about this choice, so it must be the wrong one.” This type of bias can affect important life choices, from relationships to employment, and may not reflect the objective facts of a situation.
Strategies for Managing Cognitive Impacts of Anxiety
The good news is that anxiety and its effects on cognitive function are manageable, especially with appropriate support and strategies. Below are some approaches that may help.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
CBT is a well-supported psychological treatment that helps people identify and change unhelpful thinking patterns. It can improve both anxiety symptoms and decision-making capacity by teaching clients how to evaluate thoughts more realistically and reduce avoidance behaviours.
Mindfulness and Grounding Techniques
Practising mindfulness—being present in the moment without judgement—can reduce mental distractions and help manage emotional responses. Mindfulness can improve concentration and reduce over-engagement with negative thoughts. Techniques such as slow breathing, body scans, or mindful walking can be simple yet effective tools.
Building Decision-Making Confidence
Working with a psychologist can help individuals develop strategies for making decisions more confidently and reflectively. This may involve slowing down the process, identifying values, weighing pros and cons, and practising tolerating uncertainty. Online and in-person resources are available across Australia to support individuals in developing these skills.
If anxiety is affecting your ability to concentrate, plan, or make decisions confidently, contact Strategic Psychology to speak with a qualified mental health professional.
Conclusion
Anxiety is a multifaceted experience that extends beyond worry and fear—it can subtly or significantly disrupt how we think, decide, and function. By understanding the impact of anxiety on cognitive function and decision-making, individuals are better equipped to recognise challenges, seek support, and take steps toward meaningful change.
With effective interventions such as CBT, mindfulness, and professional support, people can reduce the cognitive burden of anxiety and regain a greater sense of control in their lives.
If you or someone you care about is struggling with anxiety-related cognitive challenges, contact Strategic Psychology to explore tailored support options.
References
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- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) 2023, Mental health services in Australia, retrieved from: https://www.aihw.gov.au/mental-health (accessed 10 April 2025).
- Australian Psychological Society 2023, Anxiety, retrieved from: https://psychology.org.au/. (accessed 10 April 2025).
- Beyond Blue 2023, Anxiety, retrieved from: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/mental-health/anxiety. (accessed 10 April 2025).
- Black Dog Institute 2023, Anxiety, retrieved from: https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/resources-support/anxiety/.(accessed 10 April 2025).
- Centre for Clinical Interventions (CCI) 2023, Anxiety Self-Help Resources, retrieved from: https://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/. (accessed 10 April 2025).
- MindSpot 2023, Resource Library, retrieved from: https://www.mindspot.org.au/resource-library/. (accessed 10 April 2025).