How to Stop Anxiety in Its Tracks

Is your mind filled with anxiety? Maybe you’re suffering from sleepless nights and feeling nervous and upset all day… worrying all the time… imagining the worst-case scenario…

Maybe having an anxiety free mind sounds impossible. And maybe you think anxiety is helpful and necessary. That it helps you solve your problems.

But if you’re honest, what you really want is to relax and calm down. You want to be free of anxiety. You want to stop anxiety in its tracks.

It is truly possible to stop anxiety in its tracks – no matter what your situation is.

Years ago, I was a nervous wreck for weeks! I couldn’t eat. I couldn’t sleep. Relational and legal issues in my family had me bound up in knots. Scared? Yes! Disruptive thoughts? You bet! Xanax came to the rescue temporarily. I was a steaming, hot mess!

Finally, things settled down and I made a personal decision. “I am not going to live like this anymore!” This decision changed my life. I found help and support. Life is much different now after learning about anxiety and practicing strategies to manage it. I learned to become anxiety free.

Here’s Something Important I Learned

You don’t have to believe everything your mind tells you!

It’s true! Did you know that thoughts are just thoughts? You don’t need to trust every one of them. Not all thoughts are equal.

This truth changed everything for me.

I changed from being overwhelmed and anxious to being able to manage my anxiety in any situation.

I want this life-changing experience for you, too.

Here Are 3 Steps to Stop Anxiety in Its Tracks

#1. Become AWARE of Your Thoughts

This means pausing long enough to become mindful of the thoughts rolling around in your mind. Take a break from your whirlwind of thoughts. Stop long enough to sort out your thoughts and feelings. Identify the fears causing your anxiety.

Now ask yourself where these thoughts are coming from. This is a reflective process that takes a bit of time but helps you understand the root of your thoughts. Thoughts come from a lifetime of experiences that have formed impressions or unconscious ideas about how life works and your place in the world. For example, individuals with anxiety might have unconscious thoughts like…

• I will always be a worrier.
  • Anxiety helps me cope with problems.
  • I’ll never be able to calm down.
  • Something must be wrong with me.

Being aware or conscious of what’s going on in your mind, is a powerful step towards stopping anxiety.

#2. Accept Your Thoughts

Now that you are aware of your thoughts, you can do something about them. After naming your fears and anxious thoughts, allow and accept them. Tell yourself that it’s okay to have thoughts that cause anxiety. You are honoring yourself by admitting, accepting and allowing thoughts that produce worry.

It doesn’t work to resist them and pretend they’re not real. Afterall, what you resist, persists! Get it? The more you allow worrisome thoughts, the more they will multiply and keep coming. But who wants more anxious thoughts? Not me! Not you?!

#3. Decide to Change Negative Thoughts to Positive Thoughts

You are now at the point of decision! Congratulations! You’ve done the hard work of identifying and accepting negative thoughts. Keep going!

Decide to change negative thoughts to positive thoughts. For example:

“I hate myself for worrying” changes to “I love myself so I’m doing something about my anxiety.”

“I will never be able to calm down,” changes to “I can calm down. I can do what it takes to calm down.”

Do this over and over again. Replace old, negative thoughts with new, positive thoughts. Say them aloud. Listen to yourself announce and affirm your new way of thinking.

Remember: You have a choice! Do you want to live with harmful, negative thoughts or with uplifting, positive thoughts? What do you want your thought life to be? One that empowers and stops worry or one that keeps on producing negativity and anxiety?

Make the decision to change your thoughts every day. Repeat the new, positive thoughts to yourself daily! Even several times a day. Make it a habit. This will start to reprogram your mind and create new neural pathways in your brain.

Doing this means…

You are stopping anxiety in its tracks!

I hope you can follow these 3 steps to overcome anxiety.

However, if you are truly struggling with anxiety that keeps you nervous and troubled, watch my FREE 10 minute video on How to Stop Anxiety to learn the exact 3 steps you can take to Become Anxiety Free.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

What has you anxious lately? Have you identified the thoughts you tell yourself? Are they positive or negative? How can you switch those thoughts around?