Dear Dr. LeCrone:
I freely admit to having been a very nervous wife and mother of three. I honestly can’t remember any time in my life when I haven’t had problems with anxiety, including periodic panic attacks.
The job I have is very financially rewarding, but my compensation is negatively affected when I can’t control my nervousness.
I’ve have had a brush with alcohol abuse in the past and my family is nervous about my taking tranquilizers and then becoming addicted to them. Do you have any suggestions?
-A reader in Florida
Dear Reader:
Everyone experiences anxiety at one time or another in life, and at times anxiety can be valuable in helping a person avoid dangerous situations or prepare her to participate in competitive athletic activities.
However, when people view everything as worrisome and feel nervous when there is no threat, anxiety can become an evil ruler.
Many mental health authorities believe that some kinds of anxiety stem from a biological or inherited predisposition. Prolonged stress can also produce anxiety. A distorted perception of the environment arising from faulty thinking patterns is another breeding ground for anxiety. Often a complex mixture of factors produces chronic worry, fear and nervousness.
There are many behavioral and psychological techniques that can reduce anxiety.
Avoid stimulants, such as caffeine; eat regular meals that are nutritionally balanced; develop healthy sleep routines; and exercise regularly.
Practice regular relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing, meditation and yoga. Other techniques, such as tai chi, self-hypnosis and biofeedback, can also help reduce and manage anxiety.
Develop healthy thought patterns that emphasize positive, optimistic and distortion- freethinking. Try to associate with other people who look at life from a healthy perspective and live their lives in a balanced fashion.
Consider consulting a mental health provider trained in treating anxiety disorders. Various forms of counseling and psychotherapy can assist you.
Also, not all medication used in treating anxiety is habit forming, and psychotropic medication may be useful.
Another suggestion is to click columns on my home page, www.haplecrone.com, and then enter anxiety in the search engine. This will yield other material that I have written on the subject of anxiety that may be helpful to you.
Living with less anxiety is a very achievable goal. Good luck in your quest.
Hi.
I’m an experienced Clinical Practitioner, Administrator, Professional Writer, and Lecturer.
