Dear Shawn:

As to your last line, drop the shame, if you can.

You are scared but then, you’ve been scared, on and off, for decades, right? I remember visiting a particular place where older people were referring to their anxiety as something particular to old age. There is always a reason to trigger fear, if one is so inclined. How about this one: a 25 year old just finished medical school, early, is about to embark on a high paying career. She is pretty, beautiful, lots of men after her. Then she gets the thought: what if I get sick and die now, what about all the years in school, all will be wasted! And what about my youth and beauty, now that they will come handy I am about to die!?

Calm down best you can. Manage your anxiety by taking daily brisk walk, or a couple if you are very anxious. A hot bath at other times, when anxious, relaxing music, do different things at different times to manage that circulating fear.

Learn to disengage from thinking, through the practice of meditation. You can incorporate meditation to a daily routine that works for you.

anita