Exercises to cope with worry/anxiety

**Posts:** 3 · by **btr** » Wed May 26, 2004 2:13 pm

Hi, This is my first post. I'm 34, male, from the U.S. I've never suffered from panic attacks but I've had bouts with paralyzing anxiety in various forms for my whole life. By "paralyzing" I just mean that I get so worked up worrying about a particular problem that I can't clear my head or do anything constructive for days/weeks at a time. I'm in therapy and making good progress, especially with building self-esteem/self-confidence, but I still have trouble putting fears and problems aside and getting on with my life. This is particularly true when the solution to "problem" that's bothering me is to "let go of the problem", and feed my life with other positive activities and experiences.

I've heard of some self-help books that give mental techniques which help one to consciously "choose" not to worry, or to wrestle their worry down to a manageable size and even put time-limits on how long to allow oneself to worry about something.

Can anyone suggest any books (or better yet, free web resources I can use today) with techniques they've actually used and benefitted from? I've heard good things about Susan Jeffers' "Feel the Fear... and do it Anyway", which I've ordered but haven't received yet. But I'm looking for something more oriented toward just clearing my mind of a persistend worry, like I'm constantly trying to solve some sort of problem.

Thanks!

**Posts:** 1450 · by **Graham Firth** » Wed May 26, 2004 2:36 pm

Hi btr

I think it would be useful to learn some self hypnosis (it's quite an easy thing to learn to do) and then when you've got yourself in a very relaxed state rehearse in your mind being in that anxious situation but feeling very relaxed about it. That way the next time you're confronted by that situation your anxiety levels are likely to be very much lower.

Graham

**Posts:** 5816 · by **Michael Lank** » Wed May 26, 2004 2:49 pm

Hi btr,

Welcome to the Forum.

As you've experienced anxiety can feel 'paralyzing', the rational thinking part of the brain functions less well.

The key to overcoming anxiety is feeling calmer about the situation and anything that helps that, such as self-hypnosis as Grahams suggests will assist.

A couple of web resources to consider:

The Panic Attacks Course - although you haven't experienced panic attacks the advice applies and will be very beneficial.

And this article on Anxiety.

**Posts:** 3 · by **btr** » Fri May 28, 2004 1:37 am

Thank you both for the good advice. I will look into self-hypnosis and see what I find. I appreciate your taking the time to write and offer your thoughts.

Exercises to cope with worry/anxiety

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