Agape Life

You know that feeling you get in your stomach? That feeling we call “butterflies.” Then there’s your heart pounding, and muscle tension. Well, that is anxiety. From taking a test, going on a blind date, giving a speech or job interview, everyone has experienced anxiety at some point in their lives. Usually these episodes of anxiety are precipitated by stressful events. However, keep calm you have the power to control these episodes. 

 

Anxiety is common, it an emotional state that affects many Americans. Anxiety is a normal reaction to stress and can be beneficial in some situations. Anxiety is caused by a part in the brain that communicates and alerts the rest of the brain that a threat is present and triggers an anxious response.  The wonderful thing about anxiety you can take and keep complete control over it. You can create the life you want. 

 

Yes there is medication that can be prescribed by a doctor however; most American’s have undiagnosed anxiety. Anxiety is state of mind, your emotions and feelings are created by your thoughts. Here are few self-help treatments to help you grab “the bull by the horns.” 

 

Let’s first acknowledge that you are feeling anxious and accept it. 

Give yourself permission to feel anxious about whatever is bothering you. “Of course I feel anxious because….and it’s okay to have this anxiety.  

Act rationally, despite how you are feeling, your beliefs and emotions follow behind.

Breathe. Take a deep breath and let it out slow, do this do this for 60 second. 

Use positive dialogue to talk to yourself through the anxious time. For example, “it’s just anxiety, it will go away. I will not lose control.”

 

Get busy. Do something to release some of this self-induced stimulation. Distract yourself from the way you are feeling.  Don’t just sit there! Exercise, clean closets, pray, meditation, yoga – Do something to distract yourself from the way you are feeling.

The fact of the matter is we are a thought-producing machine and we are in control of our anxiety and stressors. The steps listed above are easier said than done! Like all things we want to be good at it takes time and practice. To stop fearing panic and anxiety is to have the experience of working through it. Happiness is a result of decision to be happy.

 

Our tendency is to think TOO MUCH and to paralyze ourselves with our ruminations. We have a choice: realize what we’re doing to ourselves, get up, find a distraction and do something interesting (positive).