We can better manage anxiety by managing our thoughts. Anxiety is often due to a tendency to think negatively whether by: a) anticipating/predicting that what one is about to do will go badly (e.g. I will make a mistake & my classmates will laugh at me!”), b) focusing on the negative aspect of situations (“gosh, I can’t believe I made a mistake twice!” – after a 20-item test) or c) making a problem to be bigger than it really is (“I’ll never forgive myself for making that mistake!”).
Here are some techniques we can use to better manage and even minimize anxiety:
- a) Reflecting on our thoughts and recognizing how they fall into one or all of these above mentioned negative patterns;
- b) Depending on the kind of negative thinking one engages in, one can use the appropriate technique to counter the thought;
- c) Instead of predicting a disaster, visualize the opposite and use the image to predict a more positive outcome;
- d) Emphasize on the positive rather than on the negative aspects of situations.
More techniques in our 3rd and last installment.
