Anxiety and depression all begins with a thought; a bad or evil thought and then it escalates.
It could be a thought of a bad past experience either with a person or a traumatic experience that happened recently or one that took place years ago. It doesn’t matter. Our emotions are that powerful and could be confusing to us sometimes.
Not being able to have a full picture of the future and how things would turn out in different situations and at different times in life, stir up sudden and irrepressible fears in us so much so that it takes over the mind and freezes its capabilities to a halt.
Fear is that crippling. Make no mistake about it.
The anxiety we however experience on a daily basis, as subtle as that state of our minds may seem, has the potential of turning into a full blown depression – a state of acute loneliness, hopelessness which leads to a loss of interest in life generally, and anything that has to do with it.
But one thing rings true.
Anxiety only develops when we want to be in charge of things and those around us (our kids, relationship, marriage or jobs) and find out we can’t do so because we are limited.
It’s human nature to always want to be in charge. That’s how I believe we have been wired to show our prowess or strength. And when this isn’t happening, the mind becomes unsettled and panic sets in.
You know those panic attacks?
Yes, those are the little foxes that destroy the vine.
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The road down the path of anxiety is really a windy process that saps out joy, pretty quickly.
So how do you handle your thoughts to think positively about your relationship, job, or things of that nature?
One thing you can do if you are anxious or depressed about anything at all, is to TRUST. Trust is the doorway to peace and that inner peace is all you need.
To get over the anxiety you feel about the future, you need to bring yourself to the point where you have to let go and believe that every thing is going to be okay.
Even when it doesn’t seem so?
Yes, even when the opposite is what you see or feel. Relax and take a deep breath. It’s going to be okay.
So what is the core preventive measure and what you can do to overcome these sadistic twin emotions?
Are you ready for it?
T-H-A-N-K-F-U-L-N-E-S-S (A.K.A Gratitude). You totally weren’t expecting that, were you?…but there you have it! (more on the practical things you can begin to do, to go down this path to come later!).
Thankfulness is the emotional preventive measure and antidote to overcoming anxiety and depression.
It’s simple, but profound.
Ingratitude for anything (including life itself) and self blame are all emotional triggers that cause anxiety.
And though it is true, that there’s clinical prescription for anxiety and depression, which could help you psychologically and with hormonal imbalance (and you should please seek professional help for your peculiar situation as this is not a medical advice); we all know that an emotion cannot be cured, it can only be replaced by another emotion.
Yes, thankfulness is a therapeutic emotion and also a replacement you can choose for yourself and at no cost at all to you.
Being thankful for what you have, the people around you, that bad experience of the past (what it produced in you or what you learned from it), the future and life itself could be hard when you are deeply overwhelmed by anxiety and depression, but it is liberating if you can do it.
When the mind is trusting and at peace, it’s easier to find yourself being at rest and thankful. This in turn, brings joy, hope and meaning to life.
It’s a state of mind.
Related: How To Deal With Your Self In Your Waiting Season And Not Feel Defeated
“An emotion cannot be cured, it can only be replaced by another emotion”- Yeminie Kay
So… let’s get to it. What are the things you can begin to do that can lead you down the path of thankfulness?
1. Renewing your mind and changing your thoughts
Think happy and positive thoughts -and saturate your mind with it.
The mind is a battle ground for our T-H-O-U-G-H-T-S. Both good and unhealthy (really bad) ones. Being able to filter these thoughts is very important to the state and health of the mind. Just like you experience the joys of today and take delight in the things you can see right now, so also can you borrow from the joys of tomorrow and experience its joy today.
This same principle is applicable when you saturate your mind with bad thoughts. It gives fear a place to thrive and if it lingers long enough, it’s able to bring darkness and gloom to the mind.
Replace those fearful thoughts with a strong belief that you are going to be okay. When you think happy and positive thoughts and also meditate on them, you can truly experience tomorrow’s joy today.
How can you do that? Is that even possible?
Absolutely.
Thinking about where you would love to be in the nearest future and having a clear picture about it in your mind has the ability to stir up excitement and a sense of fulfillment in you even though you haven’t attained it yet.
It’s a mind game.
How is it a mind game?
Because the mind doesn’t know the difference between what you currently have and what you don’t. It only reacts to your thoughts and responds with the corresponding emotions accordingly.
It all depends on what you allow into your mind. Joy or sadness, chaos or peace, you name it. The mind doesn’t know the difference. With the mind, what you put in is what is spewed out…so, banish fear and negative thoughts.
Think. Happy. Thoughts.
2. Journaling
When you wake up everyday, take up a journal, write a list of things you are thankful for and meditate on these things one after the other.
Journaling is a great way of expression. Express yourself through writing what and how you feel. It eases the mind and it is also a form of thought relaxation.
3. Be intentional
Be intentional about the things you have listed in your journal and begin to see them for what they truly are…blessings. It may be difficult for you at first.
You may even find yourself asking how what is going on around you or if truly, the people in your life are blessings. Do I mean the very ones that seem not to understand you or what you are going through?
Yes.
Your spouse, kids, friends and colleagues are a blessing but you need to choose to see them that way because that’s what they are.
4. Focus on the good things -which includes You
Let the beauty of having these blessings and the joy of your freedom and access to them sink into your heart, so you can fully value and cherish what you have. Take care of yourself and value you.
Related: How To Overcome Your Breakup Anxiety
5. Watch what you feed your mind with
The music, the T.V shows, the people you surround yourself with, what you read and some specific places you go to. Are they edifying or do they trigger or fuel anxiety and depression giving it a breeding ground to thrive in your mind?
If they do, avoid them as much as possible. Choose joy over sadness and gloom and express it to the fullest. Realize that hope is not lost.
6. Go out
This may be hard for you to do because you don’t want to step an inch outdoors, but pull yourself together. Go out to see nature and its beauty.
Look around and soak it all in. It is therapeutic for the mind.
7. Have a paradigm shift
Sift your thoughts. Replace your negative thoughts with positive thinking.
Purify your mind.
Believe that that experience of the past is in the past so you can move past it. As long as you continue to immerse yourself in those bad past experiences and dwell on them, it could be hard to sieve your thoughts.
Re-train your mind by believing the best for your now and the future.
8. Appreciate you
Don’t blame yourself for what you feel. Appreciate your very essence. You are not a mistake. Set your inner man free from the ties of the past and do all you can to embrace what the future has for you.
9. See new opportunities
See each new day as a grand opportunity to start afresh. A day full of new choices to make. Take advantage of it and choose wisely.
Related: How To Overcome Your Blogging Anxiety
10. Believe
Pray and believe everything is going to be okay.
You may be thinking, really that’s it? Yes!
Action Point
Anxiety and depression stem from an emotion –FEAR. Take that emotion captive immediately once it comes before it takes root in your mind.
Whatever it is. May be a bad thought, the fear of the future, the fear of heights, the fear of being in a crowd, the fear of not being accepted by others, the fear of the future of your kids, the fear of your boss, the fear of the past, the unknown or something you have no control over, don’t give it a breathing space. It only leads to a dark place.
Don’t let it get a hold of you.
And when or if you find yourself being anxious or when you are beginning to feel depressed, first, trace where that feeling is coming from, renew your mind by changing those negative and unhealthy thoughts either about yourself, the situation you are in or something bad you experienced in the past, and then, turn to thankfulness. It’s an emotional cure to the turmoil and chaos anxiety brings.
It may take you a while to get there, but if you make up your mind to keep at it, you will overcome.
Are you anxious or depressed? Let me know how you handle it in the comments below. If you found value in your read, Pin it and also subscribe to our YouTube Channel for more.
