Strategies to Manage Anxiety

People who are afraid tend to worry about what will happen in the future. They therefore attempt to prevent trouble by trying to control the environment or the people around them. This can lead to relationship problems and the confinement that terms such as "should", "must" and "have to" provide.

Yes, fear forms the bars of cages that trap us and steal our freedom.

We will never be able to completely rid our world of anxiety but there are several things that will help you to manage it in your own life as follows:

1. Realize that you can only think one thought at a time, and you have the ability to choose what thought it will be.
2. Think and talk about what you want rather than what you don't want.
3. Focus on the present. You cannot change the past and the future hasn't arrived yet, so it is best to just ensure that this moment is full of healthy thoughts and activities.
4. Create affirmations which are believable positive statements written in the present tense. If these are written on index cards you can carrying them with you and rehearse them just as you would if you were memorizing poetry or steps to success.
5. Learn relaxation techniques to calm your mind and body. Practice slow, deep breathing exercises as these are simple to do and will definitely help you during stressful times.
6. Know where you stop, and other people begin. You cannot change other people and just waste time and energy if you think that you can. It is better to take responsibility for yourself than to try to do things for or to others that may not be helpful and, in fact, may enable others to do poorly or feel resentful because of your actions.
7. Distract yourself when you are feeling uptight. Take yourself out of the situation. Go for a walk. Read. Play lively music. Dance. A change in activity can quickly lead to a change in attitude.
8. Research the work of experts such as Lucinda Bassett who will inspire you with their stories about how they learned to handle anxiety while teaching you effective strategies to use in your own life.
9. List the things that you can do to make your own life healthier and then begin doing them today. We all know about the importance of sleep, good nutrition and positive activities but sometimes we forget to give them priority status.
10. Ask yourself "Will this matter in ten years?" or "Five years?" or even "Six months from now?"

The problem with anxiety is that it can take over a person's life, lead to poor health, sleep issues and relationship problems.

The good news about anxiety is that you can learn to manage it. There are a number of things that can be done to help you relax and enjoy freedom. Consider booking an appointment with a psychologist who will help you to master the techniques that you need in order to do well.