Don't Panic! 7 Ways To Overcome Anxiety

There is always something on TV to scare us. Hysterical articles in the media sell papers and attract eyeballs to websites, but usually exaggerate facts. If you listen without evaluating what you're being told, it's easy to become frightened. There's a reason why I don't usually waste time and energy on panic and drama.

I see the negative results of panic every day. People get upset, they're afraid of emotional consequences and they overreact, which can actually create the consequences they fear. Panic is an overreaction to a real (or even imagined) problem. Frightening yourself beyond the real need to deal with a problem puts your body into fight or flight mode as though your life were immediately threatened. Relationship Anxiety: Fear Eyes Or Clear Eyes?

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Emotional panic can create a shutdown of feelings, so you're in a state of shock. You cannot think clearly, make good responses or decisions. In panic, we do not retain information, absorb what we hear or accurately assess the situation. Panic is the worst thing you can do in a real emergency, and if the situation is not dire, panic will make it worse.

Panic is a natural startle reaction that gets exaggerated and becomes prolonged. People often learn to panic because, in early childhood, panic can get us out of responsibilities. Freaking out, crying, throwing temper tantrums, or shutting down are all panic responses small children use which cause some competent adult to take over and become the hero.

This can be okay once in a while, but as this pattern repeats, it becomes rescuing and codependency. Panic creates drama, unnecessary and damaging exaggeration of the problem, which leads to dysfunctional responses and overblown family drama. Helping Your Loved One Through Anxiety

We admire people who don't panic. Our new President is admired for being “no drama Obama” because he retains his ability to think clearly, take his time and make effective decisions even when the people around him are panicking. People who can stay calm usually come out OK, because they think clearly.

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So, what do you do in a scary or upsetting situation? Teach yourself how not to panic, so you can think clearly and handle the problem effectively. Practice these techniques to teach yourself to stay calm when the situation is threatening or the people around you are obviously in a panic.

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