Same thing works with me–living in the present moment has always kept anxiety at bay. Whenever I notice myself focusing on the “what ifs,” taking a deep breath and reminding myself to stay in the present has really helped me push through my own obstacles as well as create a space for me to deepen my connections with the people around me.

Most of my anxieties are created by thoughts of what might happen in the future. I’m learning to question those thoughts and asking myself if those ideas are even real.

Negative thought: She hasn’t called me so she doesn’t like me anymore.

Balanced thought: I don’t know that.  Actually, there could be hundreds of reasons why she hasn’t called me. Maybe she’s busy, or fell asleep, or is working late, or her phone broke/ran out of power, or there is an emergency or in her family, or she’s been abducted by aliens.

The point is, there’s no evidence to prove anything. All of these are just thoughts.

I think the Buddha may have been the first  cognitive behavioral therapist.

• This reply was modified 11 years, 7 months ago by James Gummer.
• This reply was modified 11 years, 7 months ago by James Gummer.

For me, anxiety is triggered when I’m denying my current reality.

I gain relief by journalling all of my thoughts without judgment. I also take a walking meditation to connect with nature and this helps bring me back to the present moment.

When I am anxious I always have a strong physical response (like a knot in the stomach). Breathing exercises and a daily mantra help me to be proactive in dealing with whatever life throws my way. 🙂

This quote by Audre Lorde always resonates with me when I start to become anxious about DOING. It helps me to reframe my thoughts around BEING a channel for my purpose:

“When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid.” 

― Audre Lorde

My anxiety stems from my need to control everything and my inability to predict the future. I am never going to stop worrying about the future but I can try to talk myself out of needing to control every little thing around me.

My anxiety mainly came from my thoughts on what “might” happen in the future, like many of you I’d let my mind run scenarios that always had a negative outcome.

Here is a method I learnt to deal with anxiety.

1. Write down what your anxious about.

2. Write down the worst thing that could possibly happen.

3. Come to terms with the worst, own it, be comfortable with it. Know that you are larger than any external circumstances, that no matter what you have the strength within you to overcome it.

4. Relax, trust in yourself and get a good nights sleep.

I don’t know if this will help any of you but it helped me a lot 🙂