How Can I Get Rid of Anxiety?

As an advocate for OCD awareness, I get lots of emails from people. One of the most frequent questions I receive is some form of “How can I get rid of this terrible anxiety that is ruining my life?” While I’m not a therapist, I have learned a lot in the eleven years since my son was diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder, and one thing I know for sure is that is not the question any of us should be asking. The reason? Well, for one thing, a life without anxiety is not only an unattainable goal but an unhealthy one. Anxiety serves a purpose and a few of the ways it can benefit us include: Our bodies instinctive fight-or-flight response related to anxiety can propel us into action and protect us from danger. An example might be gathering your family as quickly as possible to escape a house fire. Anxiety might be a warning sign to pay closer attention to whatever it is that is making you anxious. For example, if you are extremely stressed and anxious when coming home after work every day, maybe that’s a sign that there are issues in your marriage or home life that need to be addressed. Anxiety can motivate you to get things done. For instance, if you’re a student, feeling anxious about getting a good grade on a final exam can motivate you to study hard and do well. These are some of the more common benefits to anxiety, though there are certainly others. But what if you suffer from unrelenting, severe anxiety and are dealing with a brain disorder such as obses...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Anxiety and Panic Self-Help Source Type: blogs