|
Learning more about spirituality makes me realize how ridiculous any type of anxiety is. However, it also makes me more frustrated when I experience it becasue now I know how foolish it is yet still experience it. What are your methods to reduce anxiety? I currently use meditation and exercise but at times it still pops it's ugly head up! Thank you.
showing 0 of 1
show 1 more comments
|
|
As usual, I would like to talk a little about the mechanics of anxiety. Anxiety is caused by the release of chemicals in your body. These chemicals are stimulated to be released when a threat is perceived- this is called the "flight or fight response". In most cases, we: 1. Perceive a threat. (In other words, we think about something that causes us to be afraid, and then 2. The chemicals are released. 3. We notice that our heart may be racing, our mind may be fearful, and we have heightened sensory awareness. 4. These responses come from eons of evolutionary development, when a threat in the environment was seen, and action needed to be taken. As an example, suddenly, a lion approaches. We see the threat. The chemicals get dumped, and we are now bodily ready to run or fight. Our muscles are stronger, our sight is better, and we are thus prepared for action. 4. But today, there are (hopefully) no real physical threats. Instead, the threats come from what we are thinking. "Oh, dear, tax season is just around the corner, and I m going to owe a fortune! 5. Just as with the lion, our bodies get ready to flee or fight. But we don't and cannot flee from these thoughts. But now we are stuck with all that adrenalin racing through our veins, and nowhere to expend it except to sit and feel horrible. So what do you do? A. Realize that it takes about 20 minutes for your liver to metabolize that and other flight-or-fight chemicals. You can jog in place, or do other physical activity, which helps burn off this messy chemical soup. B. You can train yourself not to think in this way, but it does take practice. The advice mentioned here by others is a place to start. C. Recognize, too, that if you suffer from panic attacks, these are not the same thing as anxiety. Panic attacks are a malfunction of the body, and medicines prescribed by a doctor may get the attacks under control. Psychotherapy is also recommended to figure out how the panic began, and to begin desensitizing yourself to the attacks. D.In general, anxiety is a sign that you are triggering your body, and that the triggers can be found and controlled. E. Do not forget to pray! God cares.Prayer is a very effective way to "turn over" the control of the "out-of-contollness" feeling. Develop your spirituality. That works. Try Tai Chi or Yoga. Meditation is the number one best way to deal with anxiety. Read about it here on Inward Quest. This is what worked for me! Good luck, and Happy Holidays 2010 from Jai! +1 for the fight-or-flight response.
(16 Dec '10, 15:51)
Vesuvius
thank you, breaking it down helps to understand it and control it.
(16 Dec '10, 16:50)
Back2Basics
|
I changed my beliefs.
Thank you, excellent information. I am gradually chipping away at some of these...
(15 Dec '10, 00:49)
Back2Basics
AWEsome!!! Agreed!
(15 Dec '10, 20:22)
figure8shape
This are the results of something we made. I'll gladly do this 4 points too. But I think you cannot do it only because you want it. Could you think about this and try to remember what cause this shift in your mind. I hope I'm clear. The example is : saying "Do be afraid" at a child for instance doesn't help him. He cannot decide not to be afraid. You have to tell him why or how. Do u follow me on that ? I think you 4 point are a bit like "don't be afraid". But here "don't be anxious". ;-)
(16 Dec '10, 14:54)
Pierre
1
@Pierre: What caused this shift in my mind is that I finally realized that people have their own free will, and that is OK. So I stopped insisting that others do things my way. I stopped trying to control others to get what I want (it never worked, anyway).
(16 Dec '10, 15:46)
Vesuvius
1
@Pierre: If there is something we can teach our children better, it is that they don't need the latest toy or the latest phone or that box of sugary cereal in order to be happy, that they can just choose to be happy. By always giving our children what they want, and capitulating when they have a tantrum, we are teaching them that controlling others is the way to be happy.
(16 Dec '10, 15:51)
Vesuvius
@Vesuvius : Thanks for your replies (even if I don't understand the link between my post and your second comment). In short, the point of my comment was to say that the 4 points you described is "how you act now", compare to "what you did or thought before". I'd gladly hear you talking about how you succeeded to change yourself. AFAIK, i can't decide today that "I don't worry too much anymore about what other people say or do." and suddenly I feel this way.
(17 Dec '10, 12:23)
Pierre
1
@Pierre: You can decide to change your beliefs any time you want. Then, let the quality of your life relative to that belief tell you whether it is a useful belief or not.
(17 Dec '10, 18:02)
Vesuvius
showing 2 of 8
show 6 more comments
|
|
If you could identify and eliminate the limiting belief that is causing the anxiety because as Bashar says. "Anxiety" is actually the energy of excitement, but filtered through a belief in something undesireable or unpreferred.
(01 Sep '12, 07:06)
Satori
2
Yes, I observed this in my developmentally delayed client. She gets the same anxiety reaction to excitement as stress. I figured it's the same vibration, just misinterpreted by her brain as stress instead of excitement. I did some THT and EFT with her and she is doing a little better with that. She gets excited now instead of only feeling the anxiety.
(01 Sep '12, 08:02)
Fairy Princess
@Satori Thanks for that. The music is quite loud on it but maybe that is to help you focus on the words.
(02 Sep '12, 10:45)
Catherine
@Catherine- Your welcome. Here is something a bit quieter:)
(02 Sep '12, 10:56)
Satori
showing 2 of 7
show 5 more comments
|
|
You can't exactly get rid of anxiety or negative thoughts completely for that matter, and we should actually be appreciative of all these because it is all these negativity that causes us to expand and search for our higher selves! As long as you are able to take notice whenever a negative thought or anxiety pops up in your head, and you do something to take your mind off it, that would be perfectly fine! |
|
I experience similar problem. The ironical thing is..... Ever since I start to visualize positively, I start to be able to catch myself visualizing negative (and untrue) images. When I catch myself visualizing these, I get anxious about these negative thoughts. Feeling of anxiety spreads like wildfire... I will take deep breath, close my eyes and visualize positive images in pink bubble etc. Which helps.. but sometimes I feel anxious when these positive visualization doesn't come instantly. |
|
One of the first things to do when you get anxious is to center yourself on your breathing, count to four as you slowly inhale, then count to four as you slowly exhale, repeat this exercise a few times. It's important to accept that you're anxious after all it's only an emotion, accept that it's the reality of what you're feeling at the moment, fighting it only reinforces the phenomenon. Feelings of anxiety often stimulate the imagination so that your brain comes up with all kinds of horrible ideas. In this case remind yourself that it's just your brain playing tricks and you can counter it by taking control of your thoughts by visualizing a calm scene; laying on lush grass in the sun, on a beach by the sea ... Focus on the now and observe your thoughts without judgement, be compassionate with yourself, this gives you greater capacity to handle the situation. In short get on with doing positive things and don't sit around brooding on anxious thoughts
|
If you are seeing this message then the Inward Quest system has noticed that your web browser is behaving in an unusual way and is now blocking your active participation in this site for security reasons. As a result, among other things, you may find that you are unable to answer any questions or leave any comments. Unusual browser behavior is often caused by add-ons (ad-blocking, privacy etc) that interfere with the operation of our website. If you have installed these kinds of add-ons, we suggest you disable them for this website
I wish you best of luck on your way of exploration. Perhaps one day you'll learn enough to realize how ridiculous spirituality is.