Will your anxiety ever get better? This is the million dollar question for many folks that struggle with anxiety. The answer to this question is yes but there is a caveat.
The reason I say yes is because in my own experience I have been through terrible periods of intense anxiety and fear only to come out “normal” for a time. The caveat lies in our inability or more likely unwillingness to face our fears and challenge them squarely.
How soon and to what degree you improve will depend on many factors. Primarily your attitude toward anxiety is of paramount importance in this regard. If you mope around feeling sorry for yourself and sit and wait for the next fear attack then yes your progress toward effective anxiety management will be delayed.
But just as important you have to realize that even with improvements in your mood and thoughts you will have set backs. We all do and if you allow these set backs to rob you of your hope and good feeling than you will only regress.
Listen it’s not like you don’t already know this but of course sometimes we all need a reminder. When you wake up in the morning (when anxiety can be the worse) you have to tell yourself that today will be a good day. You should start your day with the mind set that you can effect how you feel – because you can.
The mind as we all know is extremely powerful. This is evidenced by our very state of anxiety and fear. It is our mind that for the most part keeps us in this rut. We need to do what we can to regulate the tendency to let the mind run wild with fear and what if’s.
Anxiety is a part of everyone’s life that’s just the way it is. Think about it for a moment – with the financial crisis, war, political struggle and general uncertainty everyone is on edge to one degree or another. It is normal to feel fear. What is not normal is the strength and frequency of our bouts with anxiety and worry.
Despite this however yes you can feel better. Case in point – me. About 4 months ago I was having panic attacks in my sleep, palpitations, and enough worry to last an eternity. But for the past 2 months I have been doing very well. No panic, less worry, etc.
The point is that you can feel better. Of course anxiety is difficult to deal with but not looking on the bright side is simply not an option. You must force the positive feeling that you have lost.
You must regain the control that you have handed over to fear and worry – how? Believe that you can and understand that the simplest solution is usually the best.
Paul,
Interesting you mentioned panic attacks in your sleep. This is a big issue for me. I really do not know how to deal with them. I recntly had a string of nocturnal attacks in August and due to lack of sleep, resorted to medication, which I am still taking. How do you cope with attacks at night and not medicate yourself? (I read in a previous post you do not take medication). Congrats on being able to get through panic episodes so easily.