Overcoming anxiety

This topic has 20 replies, 21 voices, and was last updated 2 years, 2 months ago by Anonymous.

Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 21 total)

1 2 →

Author

Posts
April 3, 2013 at 10:26 am #30234

Louise Jensen
Participant

When I openly and honestly examined by ongoing relationship with Anxiety I recognised that it all related to predicted future scenarios that were, in truth, unlikely to ever happen.

Learning to live in the present moment was life changing for me.

Meditation allows me to focus on my conscious awareness and not the stories my mind creates.

What works for you?

April 3, 2013 at 10:42 am #30247

Lori Deschene
Keymaster

I’ve realized the same thing Louise! Yoga has been very helpful for me, and it also helps to engage with the world around me and allow myself to have fun. Whenever I shift my focus from what might not happen tomorrow to what I can enjoy today, I feel a sense of relief.

April 3, 2013 at 11:41 am #30272

Mika Maddela
Participant

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.

April 3, 2013 at 12:53 pm #30310

Alana Mbanza
Participant

I came across a relevant quote by Lao Tzu the other day…

If you are depressed, you are living in the past. If you are anxious, you are living in the future. If you are at peace, you are living in the present.

April 3, 2013 at 3:57 pm #30371
James Gummer
Participant
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, 8 months ago by James Gummer.
- This reply was modified 11 years, 8 months ago by James Gummer.
April 4, 2013 at 6:40 am #30485

Dr. Amy Johnson
Participant

Wow, I love that Lao Tzu quote.

I’ve always found that anxiety is arguing with What Is. Which is only possible, of course, when we’re not in the present moment.

April 4, 2013 at 9:19 am #30493

Andrea Lewis
Participant

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.

April 4, 2013 at 11:03 am #30568

Edit Danilian
Participant

I relate to a lot of your posts! I’ve dealt with anxiety for a very long time and a lot of it has to do with future scenarios or uncertainty. Yoga, and focusing on my breathing (the “how-to” breathe properly) has really helped me. Sometimes I have to sit and break down what I am anxious about, which helps me realize how unlikely, or fixable, the situation is. Putting things into perspective really helps. In situations where appropriate, I will plan ahead, visually talk the scenario through in my head, and breathe — always seems to help manage my anxiety.

April 4, 2013 at 6:02 pm #30609

Dominique Young
Participant

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. 🙂

April 4, 2013 at 7:32 pm #30614

David Hamilton
Participant

You have hit on the root of anxiety Louise…purely a future based emotional state.

All made up stories about how we think the future will potentially turn out for the worse.

For me it is realizing that on an absolute scale…everything is OK. Breathing into my lower body is key. And I recently came across Gangaji, she is amazing at getting to present moment awareness and fulfillment.

Here is a video of hers that changed my life, just in the past week in fact:

April 4, 2013 at 8:48 pm #30645

Erin Chumas
Participant

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

April 5, 2013 at 6:29 am #31114

Vincent Nguyen
Participant

Stoicism is a huge key in my life that allows me to control anxiety. I actually started a forum topic over here about it.

It’s actually a very interesting philosophy because not only does it deal with anxiety, it deals with sadness, insatiability, and a ton of other negative emotions.

April 5, 2013 at 9:00 am #31182

Francesca Harris
Participant

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.

April 5, 2013 at 10:53 am #31206

Marilyn Briant-Rockmore
Participant

I agree with Francesca that anxiety comes from a need to control…practicing acceptance has made a huge difference in my life. When you accept what is, you give up the need to control anyone or anything. There are no shoulds or ought to be’s in life – there is only what is!

April 6, 2013 at 6:45 am #31289

William Davies
Participant

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 🙂
Author

Posts