October 19, 2016 – Feeling Anxious?

Feeling Anxious?

 “Neither comprehension nor learning can take place in an atmosphere of anxiety.”

Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy(1890-1995) American philanthropist

“I try not to worry about the future – so I take each day just one anxiety attack at a time.”

Tom Wilson (1959-   ) American actor

     The most common diagnosis given to my clients when I was a family therapist was some form of anxiety; simply a reflection of the broader society. Nothing has changed in recent years, except possibly it has become more common.

     The bad news is what Rose Kennedy―no stranger to anxiety producing events―tells us above: You can’t accomplish much in a state of anxiety. It tends to dominate our energy and attention.

     The good news is implied by Tom Wilson. I interpret his comment to mean I expect anxiety to be part of contemporary life so every day I deal with whatever is today’s expression of anxiety. The point being, he makes an effort to deal with it.

     The question is: How does one deal with it?

     Rose Kennedy was known to have relied heavily on a strong religious faith. Others have some form of daily “time out”―meditation, yoga, some form of exercise, walking―all of which can lead one back to the basics of one’s life, the core beliefs and principles which one holds. Some form of counseling or therapy can help one cope.

     There is also one particular form of coping with anxiety that I especially like―even though sometimes it’s not seen as a coping method. That’s to spend as much time as you can with people you like: family, friends, neighbors, relatives, co-workers, whoever lets you be yourself in their company. That can help a lot.

     This is a very stressful time for all of us in this country, so these days especially, take extra care of yourself and those you care for.