Do you ever worry?
Does anxiety seem to hold you back?
Well this article is here to help. Now sit back and we'll get started with 5 things you can do take control back.
Our brains are wired to keep us safe. Sometimes these mechanisms designed to keep us from harm when we were living in caves, fighting off wild animals can worry us for little reason.
When we start to worry about something our brain goes into what we call fight or flight mode. In other words it prepares us to fight off an attacker or flee. Whether there is a physical threat or an imagined one, the brain cannot tell the difference. The brain diverts blood flow from non-essential organs to ones that will help while we prepare to flee. So you might experience difficulty in thinking clearly and feeling nauseas.
20 Second breath hold
When this happens we cannot think straight. At this point holding your breath for 20 seconds can help to clear your mind. Try it, it works every-time for me.
It's all about perspective
When worry strikes ask yourself "What would my friends think of what happened or is going to happen?" Probably they would not be so hard on you as you are on yourself.
Be Specific
What am I worrying about? What do I think is the worst thing that could happen? If the answer is they or people are going to think I am an idiot. Who is going to think that? Normally by just thinking this, it takes he power out of the anxiety
If not, then here are some other specific questions you can ask? If they do think that then perhaps they have the problem. Also does it matter if someone thinks I am an idiot? What is the worst thing that could mean? You get the idea.
Others don't notice
We all make mistakes or say something we thought was funny but then realise it probably wasn't. Well I certainly have many times. Although we may think everyone else has noticed, the truth is usually the opposite. Others don't normally notice as they are focusing on their own thoughts and worries. I have apologised to people many times just to be told they didn't know what I was apologising for.
Be kind to yourself
One of the most difficult people to be kind too is ourselves. We may be nice to everyone else but the most important person is ourselves.
Just saying that used to make me feel self centred and an awful person to think such a thing. As a chronically anxious person, I always put the needs of friends, family and every other person on the planet first. In other words subconsciously my unwritten rule is everybody else is more important than me. I must put everyone else first otherwise I will break the unwritten rules I have produced for myself over the years.
If this is you too, then it is time to rip up the rules and start writing some new ones. It is easier said than done and will feel uncomfortable at times especially at first but it will make such a huge difference to you.
On a final note, don't beat yourself up if you cannot incorporate any of these ideas into your mind.
Sometimes we are not in the right mental place to be able to do anything else than lie low and that is ok. During such times it is ok just to be, just to breathe and focus on each moment.
This article does not offer medical advice, always consult your doctor if you are concerned or feel out of control.
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