Why Anxiety Feels Bad

Do you know why spoiled food smells and tastes bad?  Because it’s supposed to, that’s why – plain and simple.  If it didn’t, we’d consume it, get sick and possibly die!  The bad smell and taste is a warning – a danger signal – not to go there.

In the same way, we feel bad because our body is trying to alert us to some potential problem or danger.  While some people talk about eliminating anxiety, just think about that for a minute.  What if you lost your ability to feel heat or sharp objects?  You could severely burn or cut yourself leading to fatal consequences.  You never want to completely eliminate bad feelings as they are a vital safety mechanism.

Still, it’s understandable to seek relief when your life is buried under an avalanche of constant worry, fear and anxiety.  If this is your situation, the message is still the same: your body is trying to tell you something!  Attempting to ignore your anxiety or tough it out won’t make it go away.  More than likely, without professional intervention, the condition will only get worse.

The more severe and prolonged your anxiety, the sooner you should get it checked out!  In certain cases, there may be a chemical imbalance indicated that no amount of counseling (talking it through) or non-prescription therapy will touch.  Medication may be necessary to correct the brain’s deficiencies.

For the rest of us, realize that some worry, fear and anxiety will always be there.  Your body is just doing its job – be grateful that you are normal and everything is working fine!  Expect that other people and situations WILL trigger stress from time to time.  There’s no escape.

Tough Love for Anxiety

Still feeling like you’re the only one with problems that no one else understands?  If you’ve already been told by professionals that there is nothing physically, mentally or emotionally wrong with you, perhaps these three words will help:  Get Over It!

That’s right, get over it!  Unfortunately there are a few people who only get attention when they are whining, complaining or otherwise miserable.  No matter how bad your life might seem at the moment, realize that there are many other people whose circumstances are far worse than yours!  Be grateful you are not them.

Go visit a nursing home or a hospital ward where there are terminally ill patients.  Volunteer at your local homeless shelter or food bank.  If people don’t do it for you, consider adopting an unwanted pet.  When you focus on bringing comfort and hope to those less fortunate than yourself, you’ll find your own spirits rise.  That alone might be just the thought that gets you unstuck!

A Benjamin Franklin Approach to Anxiety

Famous inventor and statesman Benjamin Franklin was also well-known for his thirteen virtues.  He wrote these during his 20′s and attempted to follow them for the rest of his 85 years.  It should be noted that while Franklin spelled out these lofty ideals, he often failed miserably in actually following them.

Did this make him less of a man or even a hypocrite?  Absolutely not!  Franklin went down in history as one of the greatest influences of all time because he realized his own human weaknesses and frailties.  He would take one of the thirteen virtues and focus on it for a week, rotating his system four times throughout the course of a year.  When he stumbled, he simply vowed to do better the next time.  Through constant introspection, his life became a steady upward spiral.  His greatness developed in small increments as the days, weeks, months and years passed.

Applying the same approach to the following simple suggestions will help you gain mastery over your anxiety.  Because there are seven steps, you may consider focusing on only one each day.  This will give you time to think deeply about the process and internalize the full benefits.  With only a few repetitions of the cycle you should be well on your way to full self-control.

Remember, the idea is not to attain perfection nor to eliminate anxiety altogether.  In fact, attempting to do so is the quickest route to increasing your stress!  Rather, through increased self-awareness, seek to be just a little bit better today than you were yesterday.  When you stumble – and you WILL – acknowledge that you are human and simply renew your vows to improve.

Ready, Set, WHOA! – Slow Down.  Stop.  Take a breath.  Relax.  The first thing anxious people need to do is turn off the noise and inner chatter.  If you feel you HAVE to keep going or your world is going to fall apart, remember that your body is designed to set off alarms.  Give yourself permission to set your own pace; to slow down or stop if necessary.

Give Your Emotions Some Motion – So many people today are forced into sedentary lifestyles, their days spent chained to a desk in tiny cubicles, staring for mind-numbing hours at computer monitors.  At the end of each day, they are like warm bottles of shaken champagne – full of pent-up frustration with no outlet.  Find an activity that you are physically able to do and that you enjoy.  Even a tiny outlet for your energy can have huge health benefits, not only physically but also mentally and emotionally.

There’s the Rub – Studies have proven that the touch of another person is absolutely vital to our survival and well-being.  How great is it then, when you’re all wound up with tension and anxiety, to receive a massage or even a gentle back rub from someone you love.  If you can afford the luxury, a deep body massage from a professional massage therapist will make you feel like a brand new person.

Know Thyself – We’re all different.  What sets me off may be nothing to you or someone else.  It also helps to believe that we’re never given more than we can handle.  Every problem has a solution.  Find out what triggers you.  Then look for ways to turn those triggers off and keep them from firing.  Once you’re up to your neck in anxiety, it’s too late.  The time to work out solutions is when you are calm and rational.

It’s Not Called ‘Junk Food’ for Nothing! – Most people wouldn’t dream of putting anything but the proper fuel into their car’s gas tank.  And yet, when it comes to their own bodies, they either don’t think or care much about the dire consequences of what they consume.  Garbage in, garbage out.  If you feel lousy all the time, listen to your body; it’s trying to tell you something!

Treat It Like the Plague – There’s an old joke about a moron who keeps banging himself on the head with a hammer.  When asked why he does it he replies, “Because it feels so good when I stop.”  Well, STOP banging yourself on the head with a hammer.  That hammer could be toxic people or stressful situations like over-work and over-commitment.  Learn how to say ‘NO’.  Recognize the people and situations that give you the most stress and avoid them as much as you can!

Time Out – In his book ‘Seven Habits of Highly Effective People’ Stephen Covey talks about the importance of taking some time to sharpen your saw.  You will actually get far more done over a period of time by taking short, frequent breaks rather than putting your head down and trying to plow through non-stop.

In all these things, there is a level of personal responsibility required.  Relatives and friends will only carry you so far.  At some point, you need to be able to handle your own load and contribute to the well-being of others.  Learning and using these kinds of self-care skills and strategies are no less important than dressing, feeding and bathing yourself.  Listen to your body!

Do you have an anxiety story or experience to share? Your words may be the very ones another anxiety sufferer needs to see! Add your valuable comments below and thanks for your contributions!

You May Also Be Interested In...

• Taking Control of Anxiety Disorder – Ease Your Anxiety With a Shake-up!
• Taking Control of Anxiety Disorder – Four Organic Ways to Reduce Your Anxiety Fast
• Taking Control of Anxiety Disorder – Best Anxiety Treatments
• Taking Control of Anxiety Disorder – How to Tackle Anxiety
• Taking Control of Anxiety Disorder – Getting a Grip on Anxiety

Add Your Social Bookmarks Here!

Hide Sites