Learning How To Let Go Of Anxiety Will Transform Your Life
Learning to let go of anxiety can feel challenging at times.
You may feel a sense of unease. You start to worry about what will happen, the outcome and feel you have no control. But you do. You can transform your life by learning how to let go of anxiety now.
Imagine you are doing some work around the house and you hear a loud noise. Your mind starts to come up with different hypothesis of what it might be. You to tell yourself it is probably the kids or the dog and decide to dismiss it, then go about what you were doing.
Now imagine a similar scenario, but this time you are alone and you hear a loud noise, now you decide it could be a burglar or someone that can hurt you. Your thoughts start running wild, your heart starts to beat faster, you feel your blood pressure rising, you have a shortness of breath and you’re scared. The only real difference between the two scenarios were one you were alone and let your thoughts and feelings get the best of you and the other you decided to dismiss. Anxiety is a feeling or thought that you are giving fuel to and can feel uncontrollable at times.
How many times have you let your thoughts or feelings get the best of you and you start to feel anxiety around it only to find that it was a false alarm? This is where learning how to let go of anxiety will transform your life.
Sometimes you may hold onto anxiety because it gives you security in the moment. It might appear counter intuitive, but when you feel you have no control the thoughts you are feeling become all-consuming giving you a false sense of security. Learn to let go of anxiety so it releases the control it has over you. Your thoughts and feeling are not real events. Choose to let go and take away its power by changing its context in which the unresourceful functions are diminished.
First you need to identify the thought or feeling that is running in your head and causing the anxiety. Instead of trying to force it to go away, which will only make it feel worse and get more intense, allow it to be there and let it run its own course.
But this time look at it from a new perspective, step back and see what is good about it? Ask yourself what is it you are really afraid of in this moment. What are you trying to protect? Give the thought or feeling a name to identify it when it shows up.
Look at it with curiosity and address the probability of it ever happening. Separating undesirable thoughts from reality rather than trying to alter their form is a technique used in “Cognitive Defusion” to diminish the feelings associated with it.
Acknowledge and observe what is causing the anxiety. Decide if it is real or imagined. Envision this, you have been driving for decades and one day you have a near accident. You have never had an accident before, but now the thought of getting in the car feels terrifying and causes anxiety. You’re afraid and start to tell yourself “I might get into an accident” and as your anxiety rises you feel as if “I will get in an accident.” It becomes more challenging to distinguish between what is real and imagined.
Return to the present moment for anxiety plays a role focusing on the “what if” “why” “what could be” and in the present moment it is only what’s now. This helps the anxiety release and slowdown from the fight-or-flight response.
Incorporate traditional stress reducing activities like focusing on your breath, slowing down your breathing, relaxing your muscles, thinking a time in your life in your past or future that brings you peace. Take the focus off the anxiety and on what you want to feel.
Learning how to let go of anxiety will transform your life in so many ways. It will give you the freedom to do what you want, to experience joy and love while eliminating fears and worry. You will begin to live in the moment and have freedom.
If you feel you still need more help with letting go of anxiety it is ok to ask for help. We are here to serve you.
If you feel you still need more help with letting go of anxiety it is ok to ask for help. You are on a journey, reach out to us. We are here to serve you.
