About 18 percent of the U.S. population struggles with some type of anxiety disorder.
Anxiety therapist John D. Moore, Ph.D. suggests that by “rethinking” our relationship with anxiety it can become more manageable.
To begin the rethinking process, we can become aware of ten potentially self-defeating habits that perpetuate anxiety.
Dr. Moore cautions us not to judge our self for engaging in these anxiety fueling behaviors. Simply work to turn the behaviors around, and seek professional help to do this, if necessary.
Ten Behaviors That Fuel Anxiety
Denial. Denying to yourself that you have anxiety, or are struggling with OCD, may amplify the distress.
Avoidance. Fears are likely to expand - spreading to activities and places we now consider safe - if we attempt to hide from them.
Fishing for Reassurances. Asking others for reassurance can strengthen irrational beliefs that fuel our insecurity. For instance, asking, “You don’t think I’m stupid, do you?” reinforces your idea that you are stupid.
Relying on Herbal Drinks. Herbal beverages such as chamomile tea can help relieve anxiety symptoms, but will not address the anxiety’s underlying causes.
Magical Thinking. Anxiety symptoms can improve, but a magic wand for instant anxiety relief does not exist. Hanging onto a hope that you will receive an instant cure is a thought distortion called magical thinking.
Thought Stopping. When we try to control anxiety, we give it power. Stopping anxious thought may provide temporary relief, but the thoughts will return, often with more intensity than before.
Relying Only on Medication. Medications, though they provide relief, have serious side-effects and are not an anxiety cure. It is important to combine medication use with other treatment methods such as cognitive behavioral therapy, and regular exercise.
Alcohol and Drugs. Wanting to escape anxious feelings is understandable, but becoming dependent, or addicted to substances creates more mental and physical health problems.
Psychoanalysis. Research reveals that focusing on past experiences is not the most effective type of talk-therapy for anxiety. Talk therapy that focuses on the “here and now” works better.
Engaging in Learned Helplessness. Believing you are powerless over thoughts, and cannot do anything to alleviate anxiety, perpetuates the problem.
“Successful people have learned to avoid the trap of learned helplessness and instead, take active steps to work through emotional life challenges with an eye towards healing,” writes Dr. Moore.
Source: Mercola
Photo credit: leo Hidalgo
