The truth? If anxiety rules your world, you probably spend a lot of time avoiding the world.

Fear and worry likely makes you tense, frustrate your relationships and productivity, and keep you stuck and on edge. All of which amplify your fears that things will never change.

Fortunately, you do not have to go on this way.

Your anxiety and panic, while upsetting and disruptive, are common to many people in all walks of life and are highly treatable.

So, though you don’t feel it right now, you are able to turn things around. You have a right to seek relief, there is no shame in that. With support and practice, you can rise above the panic that rises inside you.

How? Good question. Let’s consider the facts about anxiety and panic.

Then, we’ll look at how to get better.

First, Keep in Mind that Anxiety is a Fact of Life

Anxiety is real, necessary, and helpful in the right contexts. It protects us from danger when it presents itself.

And anxiety often when we simply believe it presents itself.

The alarm bells that go off in your mind and the tension of awareness tingling in your body are built into the nervous system and are unavoidable. It’s important to realize that we cannot control precisely when, where, and what we feel or what we think.

The mental events occurring in our brains happen often before we are even conscious of them. That’s why we are frequently defeated by our attempt to avoid our fears, phobias, and the events that trigger them. After all, to struggle against our circumstances without knowing the root of it- the, how’s and why’s- can actually make things worse. You might feel pulled deeper into fear, confused by your inability to rein in intrusive thoughts and suffer from low self-esteem as you mistake avoidance for coping.

So you see, trying to control or avoid our experience is futile; often, it makes it worse.  Much like struggling to get out of quicksand makes us more stuck, avoiding anxiety will only make you more constrained by it.

Next, Recognize that the Brain Makes Mistakes

As alluded to before, when we panic, the brain often perceives danger where there is none.

Even some allergies manifest this way. Many times, physical problems arise when we believe the reactions of the body into false alarm by the brain.

Our mistaken brains can suffer from a terrifying illusion. Our senses can be overwhelmed. However, it’s important to understand that the panic when feel is never permanent. The illusion has a beginning, a middle, and an end.

So then, the question becomes, “How do I cope and overcome?”

Finally, Face Fear to Feel Better

Treating anxiety and panic is not quick. And in truth, it shouldn’t be. It takes time to rewire your brain’s conditioning with regards to fear and worry.

Much more effective treatment via a gradual process of redirecting attention toward your fear.  You are better served by exploring it in detail as it arises. In other words, you want to “befriend” it rather than make it an enemy you constantly seek to escape or avoid.

No doubt, this process may definitely feel counter-intuitive. But, again, realize that the instinct to avoid anxiety often misleads us into action that doesn’t truly work.

That being the case, how is progress measured? The best path to recovery is to “lean in” to your discomfort! You will not be able to see growth by noting how seldom you experience your anxiety, but how well you accept your anxiety.

By learning how to remain mindful and present, you become empowered. Your fear and regret begin to dissipate. Anxious thoughts that implore you to “fight, flight, or freeze” begin to fade. By facing anxiety and its symptoms, you’ll find more self-control is possible and emotions are more stable.

Finally, the anxiety “cure” ultimately entails gaining clarity and becoming disillusioned with long-held fears. Then, they just become “ordinary” mental events occurring in our brains.  You’ll know for sure that your anxiety is not your fault. It’s not a character defect.

Please feel free to reach out for support and more information on anxiety counseling. When worry happens, you’ can feel more confident, productive, and completely comfortable saying, “It’s not me….it’s my brain!”