A simple explanation of Anxiety
Anxiety is a natural human experience that in the right balance is good for us, it keeps us alert and attentive and believe it or not, curios. You see, anxiousness is when we aren’t quite sure what’s going to happen next. That space between certainty and expectation – it’s where magic can happen, or if you are prone to negative thoughts – a disaster could occur.
If you are suffering with anxiety in an area of your life, the good news is you can learn skills to change your response to the unknown. Certainty is the enemy of anxiousness and a person that struggles with anxiety finds it difficult to manage the ambiguity of life.
Life itself though, is largely ambiguous. We can plan our lives, we can do our best to prepare – but there will always be vast moments in life that are unknown to varying degrees. So we need to learn the skills that can assist us to manage those moments when life becomes uncertain.
Lean into your imagination
One of those skills is learning to lean into your imagination. By reframing how you see situations and learning to anticipate positive outcomes, you can use the limitless power of your imagination to see ambiguity as a storehouse of endlessly exciting opportunities.
How you do Anxiety
If you are struggling with anxiety, it is important for you to know that it is not who you are, it is what you are doing. It is a process that is not serving you. Everything we do in life has a series of steps, from how we get out of bed in the morning to driving a car. Some of our processes are largely on autopilot so we are unaware that we have a process for executing those tasks.
Responding to the world around us also requires a process. Why do some people receive bad news and manage it in their stride whilst another person could have that same experience resulting in life altering consequences? It is the process by which that information is responded to. That internal mechanism that we have complete control over is what will inform how we respond to a situation.
Once you start to appreciate that anxiety is a process, a series of steps you undertake that are not serving an area of your life, then you can regain control and start to use your wonderful imagination to create a deliberate life of your own creating.
Part of that training is having the right tools. Just because you don’t have these tools now doesn’t mean you can’t learn them – we are all in a perpetual state of change. But life is a marathon and as you would train for a run you also need to train your mind for mental fitness.
You cannot possibly run without the right shoes.
Finding the treatment that suits your needs
Finding the right treatment for enduring change is the most effective path forward. There are many factors that will determine which path a person chooses and no one treatment is better than the next. It is important that if you are struggling with anxiety that you find the therapy that feels right for you.
Some simple tasks you can put into practice today are mindfulness techniques, such as meditation and deep breathing exercises. An effective technique is to take a deep breath in for a count of four, hold the breath a moment and then release the breath for a count of eight and rest. Repeat this pattern for three minutes – this technique is incredibly effective to disrupt the mind, bring awareness to the moment and focus your attention.
Having an awareness of your thoughts and knowing that you get to choose what you focus on is also such a simple thing to learn but a liberating reminder that you are in complete control of what you give your attention to.
If you suspect that you may be developing a pattern of anxiety or experiencing symptoms that significantly impact your daily life, it is important to seek professional help. Mental health professionals can provide a comprehensive assessment and recommend appropriate treatment options tailored to your specific needs.
Remember, anxiety is a common and treatable response. By recognising the signs, seeking help, and learning to manage ambiguity through positive expectancy, you can regain control in those moments.
