That's 1 in 5 people
300 million people globally
How much of that is just mental? I don't know, and I'm not here to debate that
I'm here to offer a remedy
Phobias
GAD
Chronic stress
Social anxiety
Constant worry
Thinking you have a disorder
Most common of these reasons is the fear of uncertainty regarding a future situation
Maybe you're avoiding social situations because you think everyone will make fun of you...
Maybe you constantly fear losing your job and home...
...
and then what happens?
You begin to fear the feelings of anxiety and get anxiety about having anxiety
...
Let's look to the ancient Philosophy of Stoicism for answers
One of the Disciplines of Stoicism is the Discipline of Desire and Aversion
This discipline teaches you to never be frustrated in your desires and aversions
Why? Bc both things, for the most part, are completely outside of their control
They wish to avoid traffic at 8am, but when they hit heavy traffic, they're pissed off.
In both cases they fail to realize they have zero control over the situation
- Epictetus
How does this relate to anxiety?
Because the common approach towards anxiety today is based in avoidance
Remove yourself from anxiety provoking situations.....avoid
Count to 100.....avoid
Take a pill, etc.....avoid
Most methods teaching you to avoid anxiety are also teaching you to fear it
The Stoic approach is .....
Accept the feeling and don't wish for anything to be different
Stop wishing to feel better...
Stop wishing to feel less anxious...
Stop wishing to be less nervous...
Stop resisting
ACCEPT the feeling and sit with it
Plus, labeling the anixety as 'Bad' only makes the situation worse, when in reality, it's not bad...
Next you need to stop worrying about what may or may not happen in the future
If you find yourself sitting ruminating over some possible future situation, you need to bring yourself back to the present
1. What am I worried about? Accept it as a possibility, It's probably outside of your control
2. If that DOES happen, What will I do about it? What can I do about it now?
3. Is there anything I can do today to prevent it?
There is no need to incessantly worry about "OMG ___might happen or OMG ___might happen!!"
Maybe it will, maybe it won't....I don't know
Focus on the present, and if you do find yourself feeling anxious, Don't resist it or try to avoid it
Don't label it as bad...
It's just a feeling in your body that you're currently experiencing, that's all :)
Breathe deeply, smile & say to yourself "I accept & allow this anxious feeling."
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