It would seem that anxiety is a demon that causes terrible issues for too many of us. A means of dealing with this element of our psyche that can run amok in even the previously most organised of minds, needs to be put back in its place as a most times useful part of our lives.
As with stress, in the right measure, stress is good for us, but too much seems to behave like an overfilled reservoir, that spills into the surrounding area's of our minds inflicting a breakdown in our normal psychological functions.
I have found that if I can sit down quietly, and firstly reassert that I only ever live my life one day at a time. This is fundamental to erecting an overview of your mind, and how I can control it. This allows me to deselect the previously overwhelming feeling of helplessness.
I can then address each of the items of anxiety individually, and measure whether there is anything that I can do today that would enable me to resolve that particular anxiety.
Firstly, is the thought involved entirely within my personal control? If not, I will immediately dismiss it, since I see no point in trying to address something that is beyond my control. Therein is the solution to that issue and any other issue of the same, that is out of my control and that is fogging my mind. This process can be aided by being able to lie down, and to close my eyes whilst I embed the positive thought of the filing away of those items of anxiety that do not deserve my attention.
A few minutes of this should work. If you fall asleep, enjoy the rest, and measure it as a victory in this small war of your mind.
Next is to look for those items that are within your power to alter. A list on paper should allow you to take them out of your mind, and the paper, can be an aid to your mind by acting as an external record instead of a continually internalised and unanswered question.
Remember at all times that you are doing this, that you are the master of your own timescale, and that the solution process is entirely under your own control, and that you will not change everything at once, but that progress within a day is all that you are requiring of yourself. One day at a time. Some anxieties are not actually yours. As human beings, we have what I consider to be a firewall, such as would protect your computer, but in our case it is a misperception of how much we should care for people and events that are not truly of any relevance to our daily functioning as human beings, but are a little bit like picking up a psychological sticky bob as we walk along a hedgerow. These items can be a trifle more difficult to dislodge. I feel for other humans in distress, and I pay money to charity in the hopes of alleviating some of their distress, Any thing more than that is beyond me and my powers. It is therefore put into the first category, and thereby dismissed.
Guilt, can cause anxiety. Knowing that you have done something wrong, and that there is no remedy to taking it back, can be dreadful. I was raised as a Catholic, and my ability to feel guilt was enhanced by my religion. But it also gave me my faith which is at the core of my being. Therein is also my salvation in my understanding of our common human frailty, and the understanding of our saviour. Not the ability to run away psychologically, but to know that I am not, ever, on my own in my life. And that when I face any demons, I have my best friend at my side. Mistakes, bad behaviour, hurting other people to make myself feel better, are all part of our human condition. But they can all be brought under control.
One day at a time, itemising, focussing on each issue individually, and developing my ability to avoid repeating my previous errors. That is my cure. In the light of my knowledge of the effects of Alcohol, [best avoided] and various drugs and their after effects. I know that I am able to minimise repeats, and also to take great peace from my efforts.
One day at a time, and when you apply these principles on a daily basis as needed, you will return, in time, to the great place that your mind used to be. This is not universal, because some people have never had the chance to feel that they were in a great place psychologically at all. For these people, there is a need to find the true measure of the previous damage inflicted on you, and to then be able to lay it to rest without hatred, anger, or bitterness. I am 62 now, and my life has been lived through the gaps in my damaged psyche. Walking wounded if you will. But I know that all the power of your return to yourselves is within each individuals grasp, and that you will become experts in your own self treatment. One day at a time. And in my life" Sweet Jesus".
Anxiety is out of control.
