Anxiety and fear - Tips

Visualize what you want.

Visualize how you want to be in certain situations, how you want to think, how you want to feel and how you want to act.

Think of a certain current situation where you often feel anxious. And visualize how you would want to feel. Imagine it vividly and try to really feel and experience it.

You are then practicing, in your mind and with your emotions, and you are preparing your body for this situation. You are creating new possibilities.

When the situation presents itself again in the future you have created a new framework, with which you feel differently, you think differently and you act differently.

Fear brings you to obsessive thoughts and obsessive behaviour. They work as an addiction. So stop them as soon as possible wherever and whenever you can. Distract yourself, over and over again.

The more you give in to them, the more the fear, the obsessive thoughts and behaviours, will determine your life. If you do not stop them, they will eventually completely take over your life.

Like with every addiction, they will first only influence yourself, but soon also your surrounding. Do something about it. Find help when you do not manage to do it alone.

Do not escape your fears by using alcohol or drugs. It may seem like a way out and it may seem like it makes you more relaxed. But narcotic drugs can in fact even increase the fear.

Moreover, you might create an extra (addiction) problem by using alcohol and/or drugs.

Also escaping from fear by emotional eating is not a solution.

You cannot control fears. They are a part of life. This does not mean that they cannot be very annoying. I also suffer from fear. After years of being bullied and belittled, I was rather alone and lonely then to make contact with others. I did not think I was worthy enough to listen to my feelings and express what the excluding and the belittling did to me.

Now, when I go to a place with unfamiliar people, I tell myself in a loving way that it is not so strange that I have fear of rejection. I take my feelings seriously and give space to the fear.

Do what makes you scared.
Sometimes you have more fear for the fear beforehand, then that will show afterwards.

Sometimes it is good to 'just do it' to see that it is not as bad as you thought it would be. Even if it is just a small part or a small step. Then you can challenge yourself to make a bigger step after that.

And be happy with that what works, however small it seems!

Examine your thoughts and turn them around. Ask yourself four questions:

1. Is it true?
2. Can you absolutely know it is true?
3. How do you react—what happens—when you believe that thought?
4. Who would you be without the thought?

Turn the thought around: then seek three specific, real examples how every reversal is true for you in this situation.

We all have different parts in us (sub personalities). Those different parts do not always agree with each other. For example on one side you want this, but on the other side you want something else.

Like this there are parts in you that are fearful. Also these parts have good intentions and often want to protect you.

In the past, this part was maybe very useful, but right now it is probably more like a burden.

Listen to what this fearful part of you wants to tell you and connect with it again. Accept in a loving way that this part is there and allowe it to be there. When this part feels heard and acknowledged, then there is space for change.

For many people it helps to write down and share their story with others. You can share your story on the anxiety-fear-support-forum on this website.

Scientific research has shown that when you are easily anxious, it is better to not use caffeine-containing products, because this can increase the feelings of fear.
So better leave coca-cola, chocolat, coffee, black tea, energy drinks etc. from your diet.

You can test this, by doing it for 2 months. Keep track by writing a weekly diary with a score of your anxiety (1-10) and write down your fearful thoughts. Start with that one month before the cafeine free period and compare afterwards.

Talk about your feelings of fear and try not to judge yourself. Talking about it with friends and family often gives space and helps to decrease stress. Conversations with others can also help you get a better understanding and insights about your personal situation.

Ask yourself the question: "What is the worst that could happen in this situation?" And "how bad is it actually when it would happen?" Your feelings are real, but they often do not match with the actual situation.

The truth is in general more pleasant then the scenario's that are playing in your head about what could happen.

Recognize your excuses not to change.

Excuses or loopholes, give you a reason not to do things that you think are hard or scary (like dealing with your fears).

Examples of excuses that people use are:

- I do not have money for it.
- I do not have time for it.
- I am anyway not able to do it.
- I do not know you to do it.
- I tried already before.

- It is anyway no use.
- It is too much effort.
- I cannot fail.
- I will be rejected.
- I am not good enough.

Recognizable?
Learn to recognize the excuses you use. Excuses are not the same as the truth. They are just thoughts. You do not have to follow them.

How to survive a panic attack:

* Focus on your breathing - hyperventilation makes your breathing worse.

* Relax your body - muscle tension makes it harder for your body to expel stress hormones.

* Recognise that you're having a panic attack - you are not dying or going crazy. This feeling will pass.

* Remember - that a panic attack always ends, it usually lasts 10 - 30 minutes.

* Distract your senses - touch something soft, smell something nice, look at something that makes you happy, listen to calming sounds or music.

* Don't be afraid to get professional help - if you experience recurring attacks