Quelling The Anxiety Monster

That little voice in your head that wont stop!

“Anxiety is kind of like a monster; the more negative feelings and thoughts you give it, the bigger it grows.†This is a sentence I often say in sessions to my anxious clients. I like to think of anxiety as a monster that can just consume someone and make them feel more anxious than they need to be. As a result, they can begin to experience depression. One of my favorite things to do in sessions is to ask clients if there is any evidence to support the reason they feel anxious. After pausing for ten seconds, they will usually say, “I don’t think so.†Below are some helpful tips for giving yourself the power to manage your anxiety.

Tip #1: Challenge Your Thoughts

Whenever you feel anxious, take a second to figure out whether or not such a feeling is rational. Is there any evidence to back it up? By checking your thoughts, you are making sure that what you are worried about may not be as bad as you think and is most likely an irrational thought. If you do find evidence to suggest that your fear is rational, then you should ask yourself if it would be the end of the world if it were to happen. Chances are that it will probably not be.

Tip #2: Write Down Your Thoughts

Sometimes it is helpful to do this. You can then either challenge the thought or continue to write down any other thoughts that you are feeling.

Tip #3: Move A Little

Sometimes it is helpful for us to move when we feel anxious. By doing such things as running or swimming, we can take our minds off of what is bothering us and focus on living in the moment. Anxiety can definitely be a monster, but we can work together to find different tools that work for you. Remember that you have the power to be able to fight back against the Anxiety Monster. I am here to help guide you on your journey.

Thank you for reading! Be well!