Three Habits That Can Quickly Make You Feel Anxious
If you're someone who frequently suffers from anxiety, there's a strong likelihood that you may have habits that contribute to this uncomfortable feeling. While anyone can have anxiety at different times, those who really struggle in this area can unknowingly make a situation that is already anxious even worse. When you're ready to put anxiety behind you, you may wish to seek out a therapist whose specialty is anxiety cases. This healthcare professional will help you to better understand your anxiety, how you contribute to it, and how you can overcome it. Here are three habits that you may need to change:
Imagining The Worst Case
Those who struggle with anxiety-related issues often have a habit of imagining the worst case that could happen. This can take something that causes some degree of anxiety and makes it considerably worse. For example, no one likes the idea of getting a flat tire while driving. Someone who doesn't struggle with anxiety issues may simply think, "If I get a flat tire, I'll safely pull over and change it or call a tow truck." However, someone with anxiety may automatically imagine the worst case with an idea such as, "If I get a flat tire, I won't be able to control my vehicle, and I'll probably crash. I may get a flat tire in a bad part of town, too, and someone will rob me after I stop."
Playing The Victim
Adopting a mentality in which you're always the victim can make your anxiety quickly feel out of control. No one wants to feel victimized, but it's important to be able to separate when you're actually the victim and when you're just in a less-than-ideal situation. For example, in the flat tire scenario, someone who plays the victim might think, "This always happens to me. No one else gets a flat tire, just me." This sentiment, while of course being untrue, can also augment the person's feelings of anxiety.
Making It About More Than The Issue
Your mind can get running away and take a simple issue and make things worse. For example, someone without anxiety issues may simply accept that his or her tire has gone flat. Conversely, a person with anxiety might think, "Is this a sign that someone has sabotaged my tire? I never liked my neighbor, and maybe now he's out to get me." Letting your imagination get the best of you can quickly take a situation and blow it out of control — leaving you with a lot of anxiety.
For more information and assistance, contact an anxiety therapy clinic.