Focusing When Your Mind is Having Anxious Thoughts

[mvillarreal]

As some of you know, I've been having a lot of anxious thoughts lately, and it's been very hard for me to focus on schoolwork. Do you have any tips for overcoming this? I really want to do the best I can!

[Beevee]

Just go easy on yourself. Accept the fact that you are having difficulty concentrating on your work and not to beat yourself up over it because that just adds more stress. If your mind is racing, let it race and learn to observe the thoughts instead of getting involved with them. The best way I can describe it would be like if you are studying and music was playing but you don’t pay too much attention to it.

Those anxious thoughts are just the product of an anxious mind. They are magnified by your anxiety which gives them a hugely false importance and not based on reality. They disappear when you recover so all the more reason to learn to let them go and not give them the respect they crave to survive.

[justanote]

I completely understand! It's hard to concentrate when your mind is going around and around with anxious thoughts. I have found that writing down my thoughts really helps. Maybe you want to keep a journal or notebook handy for jotting down things that are bothering you. I have also found that prayer really helps me focus. I tell God what I'm feeling and ask Him to take care of it. I'm praying that you will find peace in your mind.