A universal characteristic of the anxiety state is the exaggerated reaction we have to anxious thoughts, emotions, symptoms, and even to people, places or memories. We don’t understand why this happens to us. This exaggerated reaction and the accompanying bewilderment we feel are Continue reading “Exaggerated Anxious Reaction”
Tag: Anxiety
The fight-or-flight reaction to thoughts or situations that results in the release of stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol. When the anxiety reaction becomes excessive, inappropriate for the situation, or carries on when the situation is resolved, then this leads to a chronic condition known as the anxiety state.
Anxiety and Depression
I was recently asked: “Is it common to have waves of sadness and feelings of depression even though I am mostly dealing with anxiety?” The answer is: Continue reading “Anxiety and Depression”
Perfectionism
Lots of anxiety sufferers share the trait of perfectionism – a desire (and repeated attempts) to get everything exactly right. We have a persistent feeling that if we could just get everything in the world just so, we would be able to relax and accept. The truth is Continue reading “Perfectionism”
Paradoxes of Anxiety
Among the reasons the anxiety state is bewildering and so hard to get out of are the many paradoxes of anxiety. These puzzle us and make us think they have to be solved if we wish to recover. The truth is Continue reading “Paradoxes of Anxiety”
Social Media & Anxiety
Two characteristic behaviors in the anxiety state are our tendency to be self-critical, and to compare our lives negatively with the lives of others. We are also highly vulnerable to Continue reading “Social Media & Anxiety”
Turn Down the Heat
Our minds tend to get twisted into knots as we try to unravel the mystery of the anxiety state, how we fell into it, and how we can get out of it. We tend to over-complicate our anxiety, but there is one thing and one thing only that Continue reading “Turn Down the Heat”
Difficulty Sleeping
Lying in bed staring at the ceiling in frustration, the night seems to drag on forever when we have difficulty sleeping. Tossing, turning, getting up, settling back down, nothing seems to work. The more we try to get to sleep it seems the Continue reading “Difficulty Sleeping”
Anxiety & Real Life Problems
Anxiety caused by external events or real life problems can be hard to deal with, because even when we are able to successfully face and accept the anxious feelings, the circumstances are still there. This is especially true when Continue reading “Anxiety & Real Life Problems”
Acknowledging Your Anxiety to Others
Have you been able to be open and honest about your anxiety to your friends and family? Or are you in the “putting on a brave face” mode?
There are some very strong motivations for not acknowledging your anxiety to others. Firstly, you are Continue reading “Acknowledging Your Anxiety to Others”
Good Days and Bad Days
A common struggle for anxiety sufferers during recovery is the seemingly constant cycle between what are felt as good and bad days. To add to the bewilderment, there is Continue reading “Good Days and Bad Days”