Use These Six Truths to Overcome Anxiety and Live Your Life
Anxiety used to rule my life (and sometimes still wars with my mind.) But here are six truths I use to help me cope with my ever-present friend.
Anxiety is a normal emotion that everyone experiences at one point or another. It’s natural to feel anxious when faced with a challenging situation, such as a job interview, public speaking engagement, or first date.
However, for some people, anxiety can be so severe that it interferes with their daily lives. For example, my family has a history of anxiety and depression, and I am no exception.
As a child, I had a severe fear of bad weather. I still remember watching the news with my parents and feeling my heart race as the storm warnings flashed across the screen. I was convinced that our house would be destroyed and we would all die.
My anxiety didn’t just stop at weather events. I was also afraid of heights, darkness, airplanes, and many other things. As you can imagine, this made life very difficult and often quite scary.
Fortunately, I was able to find some relief from my anxiety through therapy and medication.
But it wasn’t until I started to understand the six truths below that I was finally able to conquer my fears and live a life that kept my anxiety at bay:
1. Anxiety is an absolutely normal emotion.
One of the most important realizations that someone with anxiety can have is that their feelings are normal. Just because you experience anxiety doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with you. In fact, it’s perfectly natural to feel anxious in certain situations.
The key is to manage your anxiety in a healthy way so that it doesn’t take over your life. If you’re struggling to do this on your own, don’t hesitate to seek professional help.
2. Everyone experiences anxiety differently.
It’s also important to remember that everyone experiences anxiety differently. What makes you anxious might not have the same effect on someone else.
For example, some people with anxiety might be afraid of flying while others might be afraid of heights. The important thing is to identify your specific fears and work on addressing them.
My four-year-old son is afraid of the wind. He fears that the wind will blow everything around him away. When I ask him why he is worried, he often can’t give a clear answer. However, I can tell when his anxiety is high because he’ll start to cling to me, ask questions that seek to control his surroundings, and cry.
3. Anxiety is not your enemy.
One of the most common misconceptions about anxiety is that it’s something to be afraid of. But this couldn’t be further from the truth.
While it’s normal to feel anxious in certain situations, you should never let your anxiety take control of your life. Remember, anxiety is not your enemy. It’s simply a normal emotion that everyone experiences.
Going back to my son, I never blame him or shame him for his anxiety. Instead, I try to help him understand it and work through it in a positive way.
4. You can’t always control your anxiety, but you can often manage it.
Another common misconception about anxiety is that it’s something you can simply ‘snap out of.’ But the reality is that fear is often much more complex than that.
There will be times when your anxiety is high, and you’ll feel like there’s nothing you can do to manage it. But that doesn’t mean you’re powerless. There are still things you can do to help ease your anxiety and make it more manageable.
For example, if you’re feeling anxious about an upcoming work presentation, you might try some deep breathing exercises or visualization techniques to help calm your nerves.
5. Anxiety is temporary.
It’s also important to remember that anxiety is often temporary. Just because you’re feeling anxious doesn’t mean it will last forever.
Anxiety is often caused by a specific trigger, such as a stressful event or situation. Once the trigger is gone, your anxiety will likely dissipate as well.
Of course, this isn’t always the case. Some people might experience chronic anxiety that persists even when there’s no apparent trigger (like me). If this is the case, it’s essential to seek professional help. A counselor can help you identify the root cause of your anxiety and develop a treatment plan to address it.
6. You are not alone.
Finally, it’s important to remember that you are not alone. Anxiety is a very common emotion, affecting millions of people worldwide.
If you’re struggling to manage your anxiety independently, don’t hesitate to seek out professional help. There are many resources available to help you understand and manage your anxiety in a healthy way.
The Bottom Line: You Are More Than Your Anxiety
If you’re struggling with anxiety, remember that you are more than your ongoing struggle. It’s a normal emotion that everyone experiences.
However, it’s essential to manage your anxiety in a healthy way so that it doesn’t take over your life.
If you’re struggling to do this on your own, don’t hesitate to seek professional help. There are many resources available to help you understand and manage your anxiety in a healthy way — and you have a community out there who is ready to stand by you and support you through it all.
What ways have you found helpful in managing your anxiety? Let me know in the comments below, and let’s work together to create a safer and more supportive world.
