Controlling Anxiety

The type of plan that works best for controlling anxiety depends largely on the type and level of anxiety that is experienced. For example, if a person’s anxiety surrounds only certain infrequent topics or objects of anxiety, simply avoiding these situations can be the most effective way to control anxiety. In this way, it is important to consider whether the anxiety in question is effecting one’s quality of life.

If you can easily avoid situations that cause anxiety you would like to remove from your experience of life, without removing yourself from experiences that are desired or necessary, then this may be the wisest solution.

Unfortunately, most anxiety control problems involve either general anxiety that is hard to determine the cause or factors of, or anxiety is associated with aspects of one’s life that can not be avoided without causing other problems.

Fortunately, whether you’re looking for ways to deal with general anxiety or ways to desensitize yourself to anxiety provoking situations that you cannot avoid, there are some basic techniques that you may find useful in dealing with anxious feelings.

First of all, before you decide that your anxiety is directly related to a particular situation, be sure to rule out general stress-related anxiety. For example, public speaking can be stressful for anyone. Don’t be too quick to assume that your discomfort during the speech you just gave means that you have a debilitating phobia. Instead, focus on ways to deal with and decrease stress and anxiety in general.

Dealing with and decreasing anxiety generally includes the same basic components of alleviating stress or promoting good general health: adequate rest, good clean food and plenty of water. Many stress and anxiety related problems can be dramatically improved simply by drinking more water. Within seconds after drinking water, the brain is cushioned and rejuvenated. This certainly aids thinking as well as biochemical processes related to mood.

We all experience anxiety of different types throughout life. Anxiety is simply a strong reaction of stress to a challenging or new situation. When we feel ourselves becomes anxious, it can help simply to remind ourselves that anxiety is a natural reaction to a new learning opportunity and that the feeling will eventually give way to new strata of mastery and knowledge.

In the meantime, some simple ways of dealing with anxiety can help you cope with the temporary feelings and symptoms of anxiety. Unfortunately, many times we respond to anxiety with solutions that increase anxiety. When we feel anxious, our hearts beat faster. We feel our heart race and this causes more anxiety. To stop this feedback loop, it is important to introduce a claming or grounding influence.

One of the simplest ways to achieve increased calm is by breathing deeply. Take a few moments to breath slowly all the way in and out, pausing at either extreme before taking or releasing the next breath. Also, try to use your entire abdominal area to breath and not just your chest muscles. This ensures that the lungs and body are saturated with oxygen. People just plain feel and function better when we get plenty of fresh, oxygenated air.

Many of us have gotten into the habit of shallow breathing. Take a few minutes a day to reprogram the way you breath. Before you know it you’ll see a difference in the way you are able to control stress and anxiety when the situation calls for it.

Aura Mirchandani is the Editor and Publisher of Article Click. For more FREE articles for your ezine and websites visit ArticleClick.com. Article Click is a free content article directory.