10 Tips to Overcome Anxiety

Fear and anxiety are common emotions in many people. If not controlled, they can wreak havoc on our everyday life. Here are a few effective suggestions you can use to overcome anxiety, and lead a peaceful and happy life.

1. Identify the Causes of Your Anxiety

If you suffer from chronic anxiety, take a deep breath, and list the reasons why you feel anxious most of the time. Check if you can do anything concrete to overcome the causes. If the reasons are beyond your control, let them go, and practice relaxation techniques to ease your mind.

2. Accept the Anxious Feeling with Awareness

Do not try to run away from your stress and anxiety. Simply become aware of these uncomfortable emotions, and study their effect on your mind and body. Keep a close watch over these effects, and slowly anxiety will start losing its impact on you.

3. Imagine the Worst Case Scenario

If you feel anxious for a particular reason, try to analyze the worst case scenario. Brace yourself for the worst that may happen. You will find that this can serve to lessen your anxiety, and provide you courage to tackle whatever that may be in store for you.

4. Overcome Social Anxiety

Some people may feel nervous and anxious in public because of their introverted nature. You can help to cure this drawback by adopting a more open and extroverted attitude. First, practice positive visualization at home, and imagine yourself having a good time with your contacts at social gatherings. Then, fortify yourself with the courage to actually make it happen.

5. Beware of Unnecessary Paranoia

Sometimes, chronic anxiety may be due to sheer paranoia. You may well be imagining bad things that never happened, and may never occur in your life. Practice mindfulness to sift the true from the false in your mind, to find inner peace.

6. Put Your Mind over Your Heart

Conquer anxiety by making your intellect triumph over your negative emotions. If your heart feels heavy with tension, use your mind to ease the burden. Think positively and try to be light-hearted about the reasons for your anxiety to feel better.

7. Take Time Out for Relaxation

Set aside some time every day to practice relaxation techniques like yoga, meditation, deep breathing etc. Listen to soothing music, and exercise regularly to generate feel-good endorphins in your system. Indulge your interests, and feel relaxed and happy every day doing things you love.

8. Maintain a Positive Attitude

It's easy to give in to negativity when afflicted by anxiety and tension. Realize their negative impact, put mind over matter, and try to feel positive. Think about the good things in your life, and feel thankful for them to overcome the depressing effects of anxiety.

9. Don't Brood Over It

If you feel anxious, don't brood over the emotion. Distract yourself with constructive activities that help you feel better. Keep yourself busy with productive tasks to ensure your mind does not have the opportunity to dwell on negative feelings.

10. Been There, Done That

Finally, if you suffer from chronic anxiety, realize that you have been down this road before. You have remained strong and positive despite that gloomy feeling in your mind. Take heart from this fact, and trust your innate strength and resilience to overcome anxiety, and lead a happy and productive life.