Anxiety occurs in a very predictable cycle. Understanding the anxiety mechanism is the foundation for recovery. Here is Continue reading “The Anxiety Cycle”
Fear that Nothing will ever Change
The fear that “nothing will ever change” can be a major stumbling block to recovery from anxiety. It is a very convincing fear, and can cause us to Continue reading “Fear that Nothing will ever Change”
Walk into the Storm
One of the visuals that I use to describe facing and allowing anxiety symptoms, is to “walk into the storm”. But what does this mean? What does Continue reading “Walk into the Storm”
Things I Told Myself
We have almost constant mental chatter in our heads. When we are in the anxiety state and highly sensitized, this chatter is loud and negative. If we wish to recover, then we must Continue reading “Things I Told Myself”
Anxiety and Uncertainty
Simply put, anxiety is a reaction to uncertainty – a hopeless struggle to gain control of our lives and our feelings.
We are unable to tolerate the intensity and unpleasantness of our emotions and our physical anxiety symptoms, so we Continue reading “Anxiety and Uncertainty”
The Acceptance Approach
I have covered the acceptance approach to the recovery from anxiety on this website in the section titled: “The Method”. However, this is a very superficial explanation. Even though the principles of this approach are very simple Continue reading “The Acceptance Approach”
Staying in the Present
Much of our anxious thinking occurs when we are either ruminating on past events, or worrying about upcoming events in the future. Looking to the past or the future is useful only Continue reading “Staying in the Present”
The Paradox of Anxiety Recovery
I have found recovery from anxiety to be full of paradoxes – where I was required to think in the opposite way to what felt normal, opposite to the way I wanted to think. But I think the biggest paradox Continue reading “The Paradox of Anxiety Recovery”
Recovery Struggles
The recovery from anxiety journey is very similar from person to person, regardless of the form their anxiety takes, how long they have had it, or how intense it is. The recovery struggles that people experience are Continue reading “Recovery Struggles”
Second Fear
“First fear” is the natural response to danger. “Second fear” is our reaction to the anxiety itself. Second fear is the Continue reading “Second Fear”