#WhenAnxietyAttacts by Arnie Wohlgemut
If there was ever a time when anxiety is high, this would be it. Living in the middle of a pandemic has proven to be a difficult time for many.
Over the years, I have had my share of anxiety, both on and off the job. For the most part, I have learned how to control it, with one exception – I will get to that later in this post.
Here are 4 common causes of anxiety and some insight into how I try to manage them. I am hoping that these will help you too.
W. Words. We create anxiety for ourselves, and those in our care, by the words we speak. Maybe you heard your grandma or Mother say, “you worry me to death!” I am certain they worried a lot! This always affected me and gave me severe anxiety.
The world we create by our words is real. One kind word can change someone’s entire day and a bad one can ruin it just as quickly!
I remember a time in my life where I was very depressed and hard on myself. A work colleague noted this and placed small notes in every drawer of my desk. Each time I pulled one open, there it was, a positive affirming note of encouragement.
“Be careful with words. Once they are said, they can be only forgiving, not forgotten.”
Unknown
Speak positive words to those around you and to yourself. Words have power!
A. Your Approach. In university, I procrastinated on starting assignments, leaving them to the last minute was my normal way of doing things. I soon learned it was less stressful to start early.
For a part of my career I lived with no margin. I always had a bad day at the office if I left home late. Blaming traffic was a crutch because there is traffic every day. Once I decided to leave a little earlier, leaving room for “traffic”, my days started going better.
“A first-rate organizer is never in a hurry. He is never late. He always keeps up his sleeve the margin for the unexpected.”
Arnold Bennett
Having no margin made me a nervous wreck, I had to change that. Once you change your approach, life will be better.
V. Voices. This can be social media or the evening news. There is an abundance of voices that can easily cause anxiety.
I limit the time I spend, and the content I read on social media. If it becomes an overwhelming negative voice, I simply unfollow that feed.
I rarely watch the evening news, not wanting those negative “news” stories to be fresh in my mind as I go to sleep.
“Television is the monster in your home. It’s called program for a reason. Your television is nothing more than an electronic mind-altering device. It has been designed to psychologically change the way you view reality.”
Morgan Freeman
E. Your Expectations. These are expectations that we place on ourselves. This hit close to home. I have high expectations of myself. Often much higher than the need requires.
I have come to realize; they are also my created expectations that I believe others have on me too! I should know better, so I continue to remind myself, these are my expectations and mine to manage.
“Expectation feeds frustration. It is an unhealthy attachment to people, things and outcomes we wish we could control; but don’t.”
Dr. Steve Maraboli
Each one of these have caused anxiety in my life, forcing me to stop marinating in the negative voices.
W.A.V.E. away your anxiety; it never creates a welcoming and calming atmosphere.
What is your atmosphere? At home and at work?
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