| The world of a chronically anxious person can be very | | | | think it over without allowing emotions to take over. It |
| dark and exhausting. It is possible to fight fear and | | | | takes practise to do this, but is well worth the work. |
| anxiety head-on with an arsenal of tools to re-train | | | | You are re-training your mind to react more calmly |
| your mind to feel calmer and more at peace. Having | | | | instead of in the old, familiar ways such as panicking or |
| suffered with anxiety my whole life, through much | | | | becoming overly emotional. Write it down, and keep a |
| therapy and learning, I have learned to have a kinder | | | | diary of your progress. |
| and gentler way of being. It has taken a lot of work, | | | | Don't beat yourself up |
| but peace of mind is well worth it. Here are some tips | | | | Be kind to your mind. Let yourself make mistakes, |
| to help anyone suffering from severe stress, anxiety | | | | because that's what learning is all about. Practise being |
| or fear. | | | | understanding and supportive to yourself. Don't rely on |
| When feeling overwhelmed and unable to focus, stop | | | | others to do this for you, let it come from deep inside |
| for a moment | | | | you, instead. If you grew up hearing negative things |
| If your mind is on "overload," that is your body's way | | | | about yourself from those you love the most, you may |
| of telling you that you need to stop and regroup for a | | | | be conditioned to think poorly of yourself. The only |
| moment. Take a few long, deep breaths. By doing this, | | | | way out of it is through it. I know, because I've been |
| you are slowing down your system, and attempting to | | | | there myself. The more I've practised countering |
| tell your body to physically calm down. Close your | | | | self-criticisms with positive thoughts, the easier it got. I |
| eyes and do this for a few minutes, as you clear your | | | | can slip into being hard on myself, but then I catch the |
| mind temporarily of all thoughts. | | | | problem and correct it. Remember, nobody is perfect, |
| Get moving, to help your body produce endorphins, or | | | | and mistakes are only human. |
| "feel good" chemicals | | | | By battling stress and anxiety full-force, on a consistent |
| Another way to recharge your mind is to get up and | | | | basis, you can improve the quality of your life. Don't |
| do some sort of physical activity. Whether it's a brief | | | | give up. Part of my success has come from being |
| walk, jog or ride on an exercise bicycle, do something | | | | somewhat stubborn and tenacious about solving |
| to get your heart moving. Physical exercise will help | | | | problems. I use all those fighting skills once needed for |
| your body to naturally produce chemicals called | | | | survival, now against the high emotion I no longer want |
| endorphins, that can help to improve your mood. | | | | or need. Most of my days are peaceful and calm. If a |
| Be logical, not emotional | | | | problem crops up, I deal with it. Before, panic would set |
| Instead of jumping to conclusions about the situation, | | | | in and I'd look to others to help me fix it. By believing in |
| be rational about it and calmly think of solutions to it. Be | | | | myself and my ability to overcome problems, my life |
| realistic in your assessment of the problem, and don't | | | | has improved. If I can do it, so can you. |
| magnify or dramatize it in any way. Just take time to | | | | |