Anxiety is one of the toughest emotional health issues out there. I know because I have not only helped many clients, supervisees, and employees with it…I have dealt with this fine friend in my own personal life.

Anxiety is quite common and quite commonly overlooked. We call it stress, restlessness, apprehension, worry, attention problems, and nervousness among many other names. We try to downplay its hold in our life or disguise it with all the shiny objects we can find, like staying on top of things at home with our families or in our careers. We busy ourselves with the work of being “busy” in order to hide away from our anxiety. Sound familiar?

And when all else fails to help us alleviate our burden, then we seek out biological means to calm the central nervous system. And what does that mean? It usually comes in the form of overeating, drinking alcohol, spending time online, watching a lot of TV, shopping, etc, etc.

So guess what? We all have had anxiety at one time or another. Let’s stop pretending it’s not our problem. Let’s stop covering it up. And for sure let’s stop denying it’s there, because the more we do the bigger it gets. Anxiety will not be denied it’s place in our life.

Let me suggest something that is completely unorthodox. First off, you should know that anxiety is one of the most treatable emotional health issues around, because we know how the brain and nervous system work. We can really learn to help ourselves by merely changing our thinking and behaviors. Easier said than done, I get it. Believe me, I’ve lived it. Yet I have to say it’s a good thing that anxiety is so responsive to talk therapy and taking control of our thinking and behaving, because there isn’t enough nervous system depressants in the world to combat the levels of anxiety that are out there for just the most normal of day to day living. Then layer on COVID!

So here is the unorthodoxy…try making friends with your anxiety. Try understanding it better. Try to even listen to what the anxiety’s message is to you. And believe me, it wants to tell you something. It really does have a message.

Think of your anxiety as a teenager living in your home. Teens are often infuriating in our lives, yet we love them dearly too. Many times the issue is a break down in communication. We aren’t hearing them or we are not listening to the right things to better understand their perspective. There is always a rhyme to the reason of Anxiety (and of our teens). I’m not saying that the reason is always the most logical, yet there is always something that anxiety thinks it’s helping us with by being present.

So make friends with your anxiety. Listen. Notice. And as always, stay curious. Help anxiety meet its needs, without it being at your expense.

Do any of these sound like you?

• •  
  • Feel a sense of lack, despite success in life or having done everything “right”
  • Struggle to articulate how you feel to others
  • Experience guilt about how you’re feeling
  • Have lost your way
  • Are struggling to overcome turmoil in your life
  • Have become resigned to accepting a life you don’t love

Many of us are suffering like this — daily life has become an ordeal, and we don’t know where or how to find help.

Dr. Natalie’s Online Courses and Coaching CAN HELP. Click below and get started.

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Keywords: Negative people, Psychological dynamics, Attracting negativity, Positive mindset, Breaking free from negativity, Understanding relationships, Psychological underpinnings, Personal growth, anxiety, depression, stress, Feeling better

Disclaimer

The content in this podcast and video is not a replacement for therapy and is not clinical, medical, or mental health treatment. Dr. Natalie Marr is a Licensed Psychologist in the state of Minnesota. Her work with LearnToLoveYourStory.com and all affiliate social media entities is educational and coaching based ONLY. She IS NOT offering therapeutic services of any kind on these mediums.

If you or someone you know is having a mental health crisis or having thoughts of suicide, please use the following crisis resources (this is not an exhaustive list of available resources):

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

CALL 988

Crisis Text Line: https://www.crisistextline.org/

Text HOME to 741741