Even the drowning animal by whatever deterministic mechanism that put him there will struggle and fight to survive.
So it seem there is a somewhat if you could call it a choice……. Which is both innate and tempered by mental compulsions etc to achieve stability or better one’s situation. To merely wallow in self pity is to shoot yourself in the foot.
Anxiety can be environmentally induced too.
It’s a not your choice but your responsibility kind of situation.