“Can anxiety be managed?”
I am a 32 year old male. I want to know if anxiety can be managed?
5 Answers
There are many theoretic orientations and interventions for anxiety, and it depends on the specific person and the type of anxiety. Examples of therapies are CBT (cognitive behavior therapy), mindfulness training, ACT (Acceptance Commitment Therapy). If there are OCD aspects or others, more specialized therapies might also be indicated, e.g. ERP (Exposure Response Training).
Anxiety can certainly be managed, but more importantly it can be treated so that you no longer need to live with the painful symptoms that interfere with your life.
Anxiety can managed in a variety of ways. Some benefit from therapy that teaches a variety of coping skills to manage anxiety. Exercise, diet, meditation can help as well. Some may also benefit from medication. I would consult with your primary care doctor and seek options.
It can. There are three levels to such management, whether it's anxiety, anger, stress, or other emotional turmoil:
Level 1 is getting a grip on your actions, so you don't impulsively do things that are inappropriate or unskillful in the situation, or avoid doing what the situation calls for.
Level 2 is calming, soothing, distracting, or otherwise dialing back the emotion itself so that it isn't so upsetting.
Level 3 is getting to the bottom of it, so your unconscious mind doesn't push that button in the first place, in response to whatever information it is processing and interpreting as an immediate threat.
The key to entering into managing a particular emotion is realizing that it is your unconscious mind responding to data, seeing it as threatening, and causing an emotion, a thought, an impulse, or a sensation in order to energize your system to get something done NOW.
The original equipment of your brain defaults to running, ducking, hiding, attacking, or making whatever it is STOP, NOW. In our more or less civilized context, many of the things that the mind sees as a threat aren't happening here, aren't happening now, or aren't happening at all, so nothing needs to be done and we don't need to be energized as if it were. Getting the mind to respond in an upgraded manner may require skilled professional help.
I hope this is helpful.
Dr. T. Kimper
Level 1 is getting a grip on your actions, so you don't impulsively do things that are inappropriate or unskillful in the situation, or avoid doing what the situation calls for.
Level 2 is calming, soothing, distracting, or otherwise dialing back the emotion itself so that it isn't so upsetting.
Level 3 is getting to the bottom of it, so your unconscious mind doesn't push that button in the first place, in response to whatever information it is processing and interpreting as an immediate threat.
The key to entering into managing a particular emotion is realizing that it is your unconscious mind responding to data, seeing it as threatening, and causing an emotion, a thought, an impulse, or a sensation in order to energize your system to get something done NOW.
The original equipment of your brain defaults to running, ducking, hiding, attacking, or making whatever it is STOP, NOW. In our more or less civilized context, many of the things that the mind sees as a threat aren't happening here, aren't happening now, or aren't happening at all, so nothing needs to be done and we don't need to be energized as if it were. Getting the mind to respond in an upgraded manner may require skilled professional help.
I hope this is helpful.
Dr. T. Kimper
See this link:
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/anxiety-treatment-options#:~:text=Some%20ways%20to%20manage%20anxiety,solving%2C%20medication%20and%20support%20groups.
or
https://www.beyondblue.org.au/the-facts/anxiety/treatments-for-anxiety/anxiety-management-strategies
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/anxiety-treatment-options#:~:text=Some%20ways%20to%20manage%20anxiety,solving%2C%20medication%20and%20support%20groups.
or
https://www.beyondblue.org.au/the-facts/anxiety/treatments-for-anxiety/anxiety-management-strategies
