When anxiety intrudes

Much anxiety can be traced to thoughts popping unbidden into our minds - which we then indulge! Why? Parents quickly learn how to cope with an infant constantly seeking attention. How similar to a demanding child are our anxious thoughts and worries.

Although we habitually assume that worries about what happened in the past and concerns about what might happen in the future are real -- they aren't. They are just thoughts. And the funny thing is that, when we take a step back and think about the thought, rather than allow the thought to trigger another thought, and another, and another, and another -- we quickly realise they don't have to consume our attention. 

Worriers allow them to demand our attention. By NOT indulging them, and not allowing them to trigger other thoughts is a great way to alleviate anxiety. 

So when a worrisome thought pops into mind it doesn't mean you need to indulge it. Distract yourself and you'll be surprised just how quickly anxiety can evaporate. After all, we can only have on thought in mind at any one time. So we can use that to our advantage, and decide which thoughts we WILL indulge, and which ones we won't. It really is a great way of cutting down on anxiety.


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