Anxiety

Anxiety for me is a war and I choose different strategies to win each and every battle.  I believe anxiety can be like the Chinese Yin and Yang.  It can represent the darkness of the yin, translating to the distress which caused the feeling, or the brightness of the yang, that push that causes us to do well, the eustress.

Many times we hear publicized when people are faced with the negative side of anxiety, the distress.  We hear about eating disorders, persons cutting themselves, popping pills or abusing sex.  But what do I do when I’m faced with anxiety?  Sometimes I think I’m a little hard on myself because I don’t allow myself to do these self-destructive actions.  I know that they’re wrong and although they may produce a short-term satisfaction or solution to the problem, I refuse to entertain them.  Instead, I try to change that distress into eustress and I search my mind and the internet for positive and progressive solutions.  

Whether it is a hike, watching a streams flow, watching the sun rise or just going to the beach.  Progressively research a solution to your anxiety.

If the anxiety is so bad that I feel tension in my muscles primarily, I will force myself to deep breath to avoid a panic attack.  Secondly, I will take a minute to stretch, or I will positively self-talk internally to myself.  Also I may drink cold water slowly, and you’d be surprized how much that can help.  I generally try to keep busy or think of the next progressive financial move I want to make.  Lastly, if I’m home I choose to exercise, or maybe spend time with my cat.  I closely observe myself especially when I feel anxious and try out different strategies to aid and relax myself.  Since I know that being erratic never solves the problem, I therefore choose purposefully to always stay calm.  I try to logically think through whatever the problem is and create a solution.  And I come across an activity that I find relaxing I consider that there may be a possible anxious situation coming up, so I think of how I can include that relaxing thought, or activity in my life for when I need it in the future.

Anxiety can creep up on us, but more often than not there are signs of anxiety coming on.  If we can perceive it, we can prepare for it in advance.  Once you prepare a strategy of how to deal with future anxiety, when the anxious feeling comes on, we are ready, we can attack it, and the battle is already won!