Dealing with Anxiety

Anxiety is a fact of life. Being part of our psychological makeup, this response is automatic when we are faced with situations threatening our sense of well-being. We can influence our response if we have sufficient awareness and discipline to counter its unhealthy effects.

Allowing anxiety to dominate our thoughts can result in stress and depression. Little do we know that most of the fears we cater are unfounded; our minds have taken the habit of conjuring a scenario wherein feared situations arise. Left uncontrolled, these fears will be incorporated into our reality, thus stifling our view of the truth. If we are to take control of our anxieties, we must stop feeding our thoughts with negative images. Instead, we should put our focus more on the clear facts surrounding us and deduce therein our real worries and concern. This will then reduce the gravity of our anxiety.

Still the question arises: How can we deal with anxiety?

To be honest, dealing with anxiety is not an easy task. Our makeup makes it hard to resist this automatic brain response. However, through practice and willingness, we can change our approach in dealing with anxiety.

First and foremost, we have to understand the nature of our fears. We need to find where it’s coming from and why are we experiencing such feelings. Without this understanding we cannot affect an appropriate response should anxiety dominate our thoughts. Gaining an understanding of the nature of our anxieties will bring forth clarity on our part. This important factor is the key to alter the influence of fear on our minds. Once we become aware of our anxieties we are able to allow our reason to intervene.

Validating the source of our anxieties will take time, discipline and persistence. Every time anxiety enters our thoughts it is imperative to enforce our intervention through awareness, then make some validations as to the reality of the objects of our anxieties. Once we deduce the truth from fiction we have to eliminate the lies by reprogramming our thinking; though it may be hard at first practice makes perfect.

In my experience I have been challenged by my worries. What I’ve learned though is that the huge percentage of all my worries is nothing more than the illusions of my mind. It took me time to realize how much time and energy I have wasted thinking of my senseless worries. Had I immediately weeded out the facts from lies, I could have made better decisions.

Before you drown yourself of anxieties, consider the following approaches:

•Ask yourself: What am I anxious about? Does my fear have any substance?
•Make an analysis of the situation and separate the real from the unreal.
•Focus on finding solution rather than brooding over worries.
•Use your common sense when dissecting the cause of your anxieties. (Most of us worry over stupid things).
•If senseless anxieties forces its way, counter it by engaging yourself on productive activities.
•Seek help when needed.

We don’t have to punish ourselves over our anxieties. The choice is always ours whether we confine ourselves to our self-made fear or seek understanding about the true nature of our worries. There’s a lot more to life than being anxious.

I pray that this article empowers you to "Get A L.I.F.E."