Next Time You Are In A Rut
Yesterday I had one of those days. It all climaxed in one moment of utter despair. I sat there feeling myself cycling downwards, minute by minute I felt myself getting more down. I said to myself, “Stop the cycling!” That didn’t work. I said to myself, “Stay in the moment; ride the wave.” That made it worse. I felt that the more time I spent in this rut, the worse it got. Everything I could think of doing I dismissed because I felt it was useless. Finally, I said to myself, “Just get up and do anything!” I got up and washed the dishes. I ended up cleaning the whole house. I started to feel better. I learned that sometimes the only thing that works is moving. Even if moving … Read entire article »
Filed under: Anxiety, Depression
Taking The Middle Path: Successful Life Management
Extreme points of views or extreme reactions to events are favorites for me. When a situation is bad, I usually leave it. When I can’t handle something, I ignore it or avoid it. I usually react to something that happens in an “either/or” fashion. For example, if I can’t get along with someone, I usually just walk away and give up talking to them. Or if I don’t succeed right away, I move on to something else. Dialectic Behavior Therapy argues that we should think of taking a middle road when facing problems rather than taking an “either/or” position. Instead of approaching life in a “take it or leave it” fashion, we should try finding a middle ground. Hence, instead of ignoring, dismissing, or running away from problems, I should … Read entire article »
Filed under: Anxiety, Depression, Mindfulness, Self-Development
Why We Worry
Scholars say that it is impossible to be anxious if we are thinking about what is going on right now, in the present. They say that anxiety comes from thoughts about the past and the future. Anxiety is a healthy response to perceived danger about the future (and the past because it influences the future). When we worry or become anxious, we try and figure out ways to keep danger away or how to prepare for the worst. Anxiety is healthy when it prepares us for danger. However, it is not healthy when the dangers we anticipate are a figment of our imagination. Or when the worry and anxiety reache a level that it is not longer problem solving. For example, if I am worrying and anxious about the fact … Read entire article »
Filed under: Anxiety, Mindfulness, Stress
5 Steps to Reducing Anxiety
These practices have changed my life. Next time you are feeling anxious, or any other negative feeling, try the following: Identify what you are feeling (anxiety, fear, sadness, etc.) Say to yourself “I am feeling…” Do not judge your feeling as good or bad – just state what it is you are feeling Do not try and make the feeling go away. Do not try and change the feeling or understand the feeling – just state what it is you are feeling Repeat the process until you feel better. The feelings may come up again – repeat the process … Read entire article »
Filed under: Anxiety, Mindfulness
Say “YES” to Pain!
WRONG: The best remedy for getting over a painful experience is to ignore it or to do something that will get your mind off of it. If you are partaking in this type of behavior, you are involved in “experiential avoidance” and that is not healthy according to some researchers. People who avoid their feelings tend to engage in substance abuse, impulsive risky behavior, emotional eating, and/or many other types of addictions. People who want to get away from their negative feelings end up having panic, anxiety or depressive attacks. It would seem that avoiding negative feelings would ease anxiety and depression. It does not. It makes them worse. Judge for yourself whether it is better to say “yes” or “no” to negative feelings and thoughts. There are various things you can … Read entire article »
Filed under: Anxiety, Depression, Mindfulness, Stress
OCD and Feeling Little Control
The Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science recently published a study reporting that OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) is linked to a low sense of control over the self and the environment. Current treatment for OCD involves working on confronting obsessions in alternate ways, or changing thought processes, rather than on the sense (or even the reality) of having little control of oneself or of one’s surroundings. The results of this study encourage us to work on the sense of control the person feels they have over themselves and their surroundings. Source: Moulding, R., Kyrios, M., Doron, G., & Nedeljkovic, M. (2009). Mediated and direct effects of general control beliefs on obsessive compulsive symptoms. Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science/Revue Canadienne des Sciences du Comportement, 41, (2), 84-92. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Anxiety
Now Available!
The book on pleasure and happiness is available now! Researchers have determined that engaging in pleasure is crucial to happiness.Read More