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3 Tips To Manage Anxiety

Today I have a special guest blogger, my mom! Dr. Linda Edelstein, a clinical psychologist for over 30 years, and author of several books.

With the intense political climate and widespread financial mess, I think that these are appropriate times to think about managing anxiety.

Whether our worries are global or close to home, such as jobs, families and ourselves, almost everyone I know (in my personal life as well as in my clinical practice) seems to be in a state of anxiety. So here are some brief thoughts on the topic.

Anxiety, at its core, is a fear reaction. It is the expectation of danger.

An example – When you wait for the doctor to walk into the office with test results, the moment the door opens, your stomach tightens and you hold your breath. You are afraid that you are going to receive news that will negatively change your life. The answer to these feelings can’t be, “So, don’t go to the doctor.”

What is the answer? I know that I sound like the politicians when I say that there is no quick and easy answer, but here are some tips to manage anxiety:

1. Learn to recognize the signals of anxiety in your body and your mind.
(feeling edgy, irritable, experiencing muscle tension, trouble concentrating)

2. Ask yourself, “What am I afraid of?”
(be thoughtful, honest and specific in your responses)

3. Ask yourself, “Is there anything that I can reasonably do about my worries?”
(sometimes ‘yes’, sometimes ‘no’)

Sometimes you must sit with uncertainty, you must tolerate not yet knowing an answer. While you sit, you may want to: breathe, talk to trusted people, get enough sleep, eat regular meals, get some exercise, consider plan B, participate in an activity that engages your mind, call Jenny for acupuncture, and be grateful for the life that you have. Being grateful has health benefits.

Linda N. Edelstein, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist with private practices in Evanston and Chicago. She is the author of “Maternal Bereavement,” “The Art of Midlife,” and the best selling, “The Writer’s Guide to Character Traits. She presents papers nationally, consults to business executives, and taught at Northwestern University.

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Comments 6

  1. This is a hard thing to overcome with my clients! I’ve tried explaining to them that the stressors are sometimes things you can control and sometimes not. If they are uncontrollable then the only thing that can do is embrace the change and find the brighter side. Easier said then done though. Thanks for the read!

    1. Post
      Author

      I’m glad you liked the post. I always explain to my clients that acupuncture is very helpful, but of course their life choices make a difference in how they feel.

  2. Great article, and I agree that it is up to the customer to help reduce the amount of stress in their lives which leads to anxiety. Loved your blog

    1. Post
      Author

      Thanks so much Sabrina, I love hearing that you appreciate my posts and my blog! I hope you’ll keep reading and commenting.

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