How to optimize your anxiety, rather than let it hold you back

How to optimize your anxiety, rather than let it hold you back

Anxiety is a normal, human emotion.

And anxiety is a perfectly appropriate human emotion at times.

That being said, as some of us know, anxiety can also be unhealthy and unhelpful and even overwhelming at times.

If or when this happens, anxiety can undermine our happiness and wellbeing; which is when we usually try to manage it.

But what if we could do more than just manage anxiety? What if we could actually use our anxiety for good; for thriving and flourishing and even happiness?

If this sounds interesting then read on …

via Fast Company by Matt Higgins

For my entire life, I’ve struggled with anxiety, insomnia, and obsessive worries about things I can and can’t control. My friends chide me as the most paranoid risk-taker they know. Sometimes it helps me, but sometimes it absolutely doesn’t. When I’m facing a big moment, I can become absolutely paralyzed and completely unproductive. My body rebels, putting my success at risk simply because my brain won’t shut off and let me get rest. It’s a fight-or-flight response, a constant need to be at high alert—to look for danger.

Here are my top four tips for getting through anxiety.

FIND A STUDY TO REASSURE YOU

Data is power. If I can find a study to show that I’m actually doing something right, in whatever I’m trying to pursue, then that knowledge can be enough to move me past my doubts. I have no better example than when I ran a marathon in Paris.

I found a compelling piece of research that while mental performance is absolutely impacted by a lack of sleep, physical performance can withstand 30 to 72 hours of being awake. Bingo—I was reassured, and all was once again good in my head. I ran the race and improved my time by 10 minutes over my speed when I ran the New York City Marathon.

Will there always be data to reassure you, in any situation? Of course not. But with 8 billion people in the world, someone, somewhere, has gone through what you are going through right now. Find that study, or find that person, and save yourself the trouble of repeating their mistakes. Inform your decisions and overcome your worry with facts…

… keep reading the full & original article HERE