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Anxiety can be a bear. There are many therapies out there, claiming to be able to “cure” anxiety. The truth is, you can learn tools to reduce it, but it isn’t likely to go away entirely. Why? It is a normal human emotion. When you are stressed, your body goes into fight or flight mode, prompting a multitude of physiological reactions in your body. This gives new meaning to “It is NOT all in your head”. I could take time to explain what happens with the parasympathetic nervous system when fight or flight kicks in, flooding your body with cortisol. But you can research that on your own. What is important to know is anxiety can be a tool. It signals us something is putting us in danger. However, when anxiety gets out of control, it becomes problematic. We are not meant to live in a constant, hypervigilant, state. This can take a toll on both your mental and physical health, long term.
The bottom line? Anxiety and panic can make you feel horrible. Especially when you know it may not be a logical response to what triggered you, but you feel powerless to stop it. Your heart may feel as though it is going to beat out of your chest, or you may feel you are having a heart attack. Your pulse races, your thoughts often either slow to a crawl or run away with you. You may begin sweating uncontrollably. You are filled with a sense of overwhelming dread. You may even become so terrified of anxiety and panic that you begin to avoid the stimuli that causes it. Sound familiar? Good news! You CAN learn to take charge of your anxiety, instead of it controlling you.
Sometimes, the most helpful approach can be found through others with lived experience. In her book, Own It-Make Your Anxiety Work For You, author Caroline Foran is one such person. Caroline is on to something. If we cannot eliminate our anxiety, how can we empower ourselves to make it work for, rather than against us? Because, guess what? It is within your control to do just that, with the right tools! With the correct tools, you can reduce your anxiety and panic to lesser, more appropriate, levels. Ms. Foran shares valuable coping skills and tools in her book, that are realistic, and down to earth, minus the technical jargon. As someone else with lived experience, I believe are effective.
Another book that can be hugely helpful is the Anxiety and Phobia Workbook, by Edmond Bourne, Ph.D. The author provides a workbook chalk full of tools to combat anxiety, panic, and phobias. It is not a quick process, but with steady, consistent effort, it can help you to take control of these emotions and promote a lifestyle change that helps you live a happier, less stressful life. I suggest working on one worksheet at a time, several days a week over a span of at least one year. This book is the one that empowered me years ago, to begin fully living again, minus the excessive and debilitating, stress, anxiety, and panic attacks.
While doing the recovery work yourself is necessary, it is best to do so with guidance. This is very important if your anxiety and panic are a response to a trauma you experienced. I would encourage anyone experiencing anxiety, panic attacks, and/or phobias to also reach out to a qualified professional counselor. Attempting to work through it on your own may be dangerous, in some cases. Therapy, coupled with one or both of the books above can help you to take charge of your life, reduce your symptoms, and begin to live with balance again. Both books are available on my website, with direct links to purchase them from Amazon.
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