Sarah Moore
5. Spend time with your pet.
Taking your dog for a walk and just having an interaction is therapeutic. Anxiety treatment is geared toward getting you out of your own head and allows you to be in the present moment. Who can resist a cute doggie just wanting your attention? If we could just be more simple like animals and not worry about life, wouldn’t life be so much better? Loving your animal will relieve a lot of anxiety and it is also fun to have a companion at your side.
6. Challenge negative beliefs.
If you do not have time to write down all your thoughts then challenge your thoughts in your mind. “I am worried I will not get out of this traffic, and there will be an emergency and I will be stuck.” When is the last time you were stuck in traffic for more than 3 hours, 6 hours, 12 hours? Even though the traffic may be bad, you will be out soon, stop panicking. “I am afraid if I tell my friend Sally no to hanging out tonight she will hate me.” Think of all the times your friend Sally has had other plans and said no to you, did you end up hating her? The trick is to say the thought back to yourself. Construct a rebuttal as if you were in an argument for the debate team.