Where There Are People- There is Anxiety
No matter who you are or what you do, there will be anxiety. You may be facing a tense situation such as giving a speech, interviewing for a job, beginning a new relationship- situational. Or it may be something more insidious- a long term fear, a panic disorder, persistent social anxiety.
Good Therapy describes it as “Nervousness, apprehension, and self-doubt that may or may not be associated with real-life stressors. Everyone experiences some level of anxiety periodically, but when feelings of dread and worry are unfocused, overwhelming, recurring, and not directly linked to stressful events, anxiety may leave a person severely impaired.”
Do not feel as if you are alone. Look around you. We humans are very skillful at disguising it in public, but Anxiety and Depression Association shows how ubiquitous anxiety is: “Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., affecting 40 million adults in the United States age 18 and older, or 18.1% of the population every year.”
Most of us are or have been in that number.
Here are some self-helps:
Mindfulness:
Dr. John Kabat-Zinn, developed the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center. Since its inception, MBSR has evolved into a common form of complementary medicine addressing a variety of health problems. Dr. Kabat-Zin is director at the center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care and Society at the University Of Massachusetts Medical Center”. His work incorporates yoga, meditation and beyond with great success. (Matthew Hunt, Stress Relief Two Different Approaches, Counseling on Demand, citing Wikipedia)
Meditation
Allison Aubrey, Health News, NPR writes:
“Meditation does help manage anxiety, depression and pain, according to the 47 studies analyzed in JAMA Internal Medicine.
People are increasingly turning to mindfulness meditation to manage health issues, and meditation classes are being offered through schools and hospitals.”
Prayer
For people of faith, a prayer for peace of mind asks, God to relieve anxiety and stress, and grant a clarity of mind to feel at ease in one’s life. The familiar Serenity prayer, “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.” Living one day at a time; enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace may be of help.
Yoga Positions and Breathing
Regular yoga practice can help you stay calm and relaxed in daily life and can also give you the strength to face events as they come without getting restless. Yoga alone should not be considered as the only treatment option. It should complement proper medication after consultation with a doctor or specialist. The doctor would guide you on the condition better and help you understand the type of anxiety disorder you may have – Panic Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder, or Generalized Anxiety Disorder, to name a few.
(Matthew Hunt, Three Ways to Quiet the Mind, Counseling on Demand)
Profession Treatment
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (also known by the abbreviation as CBT) is described by fellow mental health professional, Ben Martin Psy.D of Psyche Central as a short-term, goal-oriented psychotherapy treatment that takes a hands-on, practical approach to problem-solving.
Most professionals, would agree, its goal is to change patterns of thinking or behavior that are behind people’s difficulties, and so change the way they feel. It is used to help treat a wide range of issues in a person’s life, from sleeping difficulties or relationship problems, to drug and alcohol abuse or anxiety and depression. CBT works by changing people’s attitudes and thereby focusing on the thoughts, images, beliefs and attitudes that we hold (our cognitive processes) and how this relates to the way we behave, as a way of dealing with emotional problems. (Matthew Hunt, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy In a Nutshell, Counseling on Demand )
This is where Counseling on Demand comes in.
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