ANXIETY

Worrying is a normal part of human nature. Worrying implies an incessant goading or attacking that drives one to desperation. It could also imply mental distress or agitation resulting from concern usually for something impending or anticipated.
Worry or anxiety has been duly addressed in religions. Most faiths discourage the emotion based on the belief that their god has got it covered. For instance Christians are urged in the bible not to entertain this attitude-“Take no thought of your life, what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink nor yet for your body, what you shall put on. Which of you by taking thought could add one cubit unto his stature?”
Worrying in essence is like borrowing trouble from the future. Identifying its presence and effects is the easiest part. The challenge is to quell it. Here are a number of ways to minimize the amount of time you spend on brooding:
(i)Dismiss the worry-A famous author wrote:”My life has been a series of catastrophes-most of which never happened.”
Most of the things we worry about eventually amount to nothing. It pays to question your fears and weigh their chances of happening.
(ii)Delay your worries-Don’t worry ahead of time, just keep a positive mind and but brace yourself for any outcome. The wait and see approach –wait until there’s something to worry about.
(iii)Confront your fear-Do some constructive worrying by answering a few questions:
What‘s the worst that can happen?
How likely is it?
What would I do to handle it?
What would I do to prevent it or prepare for it?
Answering these questions gives you a wild card to present when things go haywire.Therefore, you feel secure and reassured.You can face health, financial or relationship fears by creative worrying.
(iv)Beware instead of being fearful-Denial and complacency can be dangerous but the solution is being conscious. The difference is that worry is not accompanied by useful action. Its problem oriented but concern is solution oriented i.e. constructive and rational process.
(v)Control what you can and leave what you can’t-If you can take care of it do it but if you have no control over your anxiety, don’t bother yourself. Either way, worry leads to depression.
(vi)Distract yourself-Get engaged in some enjoyable activity.
(vii)Vent-They say misery loves company. Talk or share your worries.
(viii)Be philosophical-Philosophers have their way round situations by the way they theorize everything. Tell yourself, whatever will be, will be.
(ix)Laugh-A great sense of humour could relieve one of much heart ache. Joke about your worries.
(x)Relax-Try relaxation exercises to calm you down.
Relaxation is about focusing the mind on physical sensations at that moment. Start with ten minutes a day. As you get used to it, you could increase your meditation time. This focus is quite a discipline and in time you become relaxed.
The bottom line is that worry is an unnecessary emotion that we can’t afford in the race of life. To entertain it is to accept the possibility of failure in every aspect of our lives.