Many of us struggle daily with fears and phobias. Some fears are simply inconvenient, like the fear of flying or spiders. But others are debilitating, such as social anxiety disorder, which can make any conversation with a stranger feel like torture.
How can we deal with the many anxieties that we experience every day?
In their book Overcoming Anxiety, Panic, and Depression, James Gardner and Arthur H. Bell explain in detail how to overcome our greatest and most limiting fears. They encourage us to start by carefully analyzing our lives, because overcoming a strong and persistent phobia requires much more effort than just changing one or two life habits. Learning to think positively and live with gratitude for what we have, eating a healthy diet, getting good sleep and regular physical activity, meditation, prayer, or looking for support groups can all make a difference. But they’re not the only answer.
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Due to the complexity of the issue, we will not analyze in detail the process of overcoming fears and phobias, but we can catch a glimpse at some of Gardner and Bell’s “rules for overcoming anxiety” to identify where we could improve. Every little bit helps!
25 tips for overcoming anxiety
- Get up in the morning early enough so that you do not have to start your day in a hurry, and always go to bed at the same time.
- Work at your own pace, don’t overload yourself with work, and delegate some tasks to competent people.
- Simplify and organize your life. Less is more.
- Focus on today and use it effectively.
- Slow down.
- Separate worrying from real problems.
- Live within your budget (avoid debt).
- Pray, meditate, and spend some time alone every day.
- Talk less. You don’t always have to be right. Listen more.
- Find time for activities you enjoy every day.
- Exercise regularly and eat healthily.
- Write down inspirational thoughts immediately.
- Choose friends and friendships carefully (don’t let yourself be used and don’t use others).
- Laugh.
- Remember that you are not the center of the universe and that life does not revolve around you.
- Cultivate an attitude of forgiveness.
- Practice modesty and humility, treating others with respect.
- Be courteous, even towards unpleasant people.
- Apologize for your mistakes and express gratitude at every opportunity.
- Thank and immediately repay any kindness.
- Stop searching for happiness. Let it find you.
- Don’t expect too much of yourself (get rid of your obsession with perfection).
- Don’t become emotionally attached to the results of your actions.
- Learn to compromise.
- Enjoy the successes and talents of others.
This article was originally published in the Polish Edition of Aleteia.
