I hope my answer can be of some help to you.
I believe the host has a deep awareness of himself, so I'll give you a thumbs-up. I don't think we need to worry about eliminating anxiety, as it's a natural emotion that can be triggered by many things. In fact, most anxiety is caused by our worries about the future. You can go and notice it for yourself: when you are not sure about the future and not confident enough, do you start to become anxious?
I believe you are correct in your assessment. If we believe that we should not experience anxiety, it is likely that we will become even more anxious when we do feel it. However, it is important to recognize that anxiety is a natural emotion and that it serves a purpose. In fact, anxiety can have a positive effect.
For instance, in ancient times, when our ancestors had no place to live and encountered wild animals, they needed anxiety to alert them to the potential danger. If we don't feel anxious, we may be inclined to stand still and wait to be eaten. Whether we choose to confront the wild animals or choose to escape, both are ways to deal with danger.
As evolution progressed, anxiety developed various levels. Sometimes we may find ourselves facing a tiger, sometimes a fox, and sometimes just a kitten...
It is worth noting that while society is much safer than before, the anxiety gene is still present. On occasion, individuals may feel compelled to come out to work, and in certain instances, this can result in anxiety that is similar to seeing a tiger when we encounter what might be considered "kitten-level" danger.
It would be beneficial for us to be mindful of whether we might be overreacting to reality. It could be helpful to consider whether we are perhaps encountering just a kitten but thinking we have seen a tiger.
I hope you will find the following advice helpful:
1. It may be helpful to continue accepting the existence of anxiety, without forcing yourself to live with it, but rather seeing the meaning behind it.
Many negative emotions are understandable. Anxiety is no different. It serves as a reminder that it's important to pay attention to certain needs.
When we face a challenge and experience anxiety, it could be that we may benefit from building our confidence or re-evaluating our perspective on the challenge.
Anxiety can be compared to the flashing "low fuel" warning light in a car. It may evoke negative emotions, but it serves as a gentle reminder that we need to replenish our resources or consider stopping before we run out of fuel.
For instance, a single mother may experience restlessness due to the recent dismissal of her colleague. This anxiety may stem from the concern that she, too, may face similar circumstances, potentially impacting her ability to provide a stable life for her child.
It might be helpful to view this worry as a reminder to prepare for the future. It could be that she needs to work hard, learn more skills, or even find more fallback options. In short, anxiety is a signal that she needs to prepare for the future.
It may be helpful to consider that a certain amount of anxiety can actually promote our development and growth. When we are aware of our lack of confidence and the importance we attach to it, it might be beneficial to try to satisfy this part of our needs in a way that aligns with our values. This could involve self-belief, self-affirmation, recognizing our abilities, encouraging ourselves to take action, and giving ourselves positive mental suggestions. Once we have done so, it might be helpful to implement the plan with both feet on the ground, focus on the process rather than the result, do our best, and allow things to unfold naturally.
2. You might consider trying to turn anxiety into anticipation and excitement.
2. You might consider transforming anxiety into anticipation and excitement.
I once had the pleasure of listening to a live broadcast by Lin Congren, in which he made an interesting observation. He mentioned that the brain area responsible for experiencing anxiety is the same as the one associated with feeling excited or looking forward to something. If you find yourself feeling anxious about something, it might be helpful to try changing your mindset and focusing on the positive aspects of the situation.
You may find that your state of mind shifts quite significantly.
For instance, if you are feeling anxious about an upcoming exam, you might try transforming that anxiety into anticipation. You could imagine the results of your studies during this period, anticipate the types of questions you might encounter, and see if that helps to make the experience a little easier.
3. There are a few methods you can try to help relieve anxiety.
3. There are a few methods you can use to help relieve anxiety.
For instance, when you are feeling anxious, you might consider engaging in some meditation exercises to help you focus on the present moment and avoid dwelling on future concerns. Another option could be to embrace the comfort of a hug, as this can release oxytocin in our bodies, creating a sense of warmth and happiness, which can help to ease anxiety. Additionally, you could explore some coping strategies, such as adopting abdominal breathing to help relieve the physical symptoms of anxiety and calm your uneasy emotions.
Take a moment to recall the series of reactions your body may experience when anxiety arises. For instance, your heart rate may increase, your breathing may become faster, your muscles may tense, and you may even feel nauseous.
It is often thought that these reactions are the body's natural stress response to anxiety and that they are uncontrollable. However, it may be possible to control them through training and reduce the impact of anxiety on the body. When the physiological response weakens, it may be the case that the anxiety also weakens.
One possible way to reduce physiological reactions is to consider changing your breathing method and learning to use abdominal breathing.
There are two main types of breathing: thoracic breathing and abdominal breathing. Thoracic breathing involves breathing through the chest, which can be fast and shallow, or even very rapid.
Abdominal breathing involves using the abdomen to breathe, which can help to relax the body.
It is not uncommon for us to unconsciously adopt chest breathing when we are feeling anxious or nervous. In such instances, it can be beneficial to try changing the breathing method and using abdominal breathing, as this can help to relax the body and relieve anxiety.
Could I perhaps inquire as to how one goes about performing abdominal breathing?
If I might suggest, begin by placing one hand on your abdomen so that you can feel the rise and fall of your abdomen. Then, slowly inhale deeply, allowing as much air as possible to enter your body and feel your abdomen rise to its fullest extent.
If you would like to make your inhaling slower, you might try mentally counting to five. Then, while your abdomen is bulging to the maximum, you could hold your breath and still mentally count to five.
Finally, we exhale slowly, while still silently counting for five seconds. As we exhale, we begin to feel our body slowly relax and become limp.
This completes a complete set of abdominal breathing. We have the option of doing ten sets per exercise, with a short rest of a few seconds between each set. During the exercise, it may be helpful to pay attention to maintaining a smooth and even breathing.
It would be beneficial to practice abdominal breathing twice a day for 3 to 5 minutes each time, for at least two weeks, so that it becomes a habit. Through these exercises, we can potentially reduce the physiological response caused by anxiety, relax our bodies, and relieve our restless emotions.
I would like to suggest a book that I think you might find helpful in learning more about anxiety and ways to cope with it: "Coping with Anxiety." I believe you will find it beneficial to read it.
Please feel free to refer to this information as needed.
Wishing you the best!
Comments
I can relate to feeling anxious even when everything seems fine. It's like a quiet storm inside that no one else sees. Accepting it as part of me has been the key, not trying to fight it but finding peace within it.
Embracing anxiety doesn't mean giving in to it. It's about acknowledging its presence and learning to coexist. I've found comfort in small daily practices, like mindful breathing or journaling, which help me navigate through these feelings without letting them define me.
Living with anxiety can indeed be seen as a form of strength, not weakness. It's taught me to be more patient and compassionate with myself. Maybe we should view anxiety not as an enemy but as a companion that pushes us to grow and understand ourselves better.
It's interesting how accepting our anxiety can transform it from something we fear into something we learn from. For me, it's become a reminder to slow down and appreciate the present moment, rather than worry about what might never happen.
Anxiety used to feel like a shadow, always there but hard to grasp. Now, I see it as part of my human experience. Learning to live with it means giving myself permission to feel without judgment, and finding beauty in the complexity of emotions.