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Lessons I Have Learned From My 20 Year Struggle With Fear And Anxiety

Thursday, September 12, 2019 - 11:30am
Stan Popovich

Do you currently struggle with fear and anxiety and wish you could talk to someone who can relate to your situation?

If so, I dealt with fear and anxiety for over 20 years and here are some lessons I learned during my mental health struggles.

1. Listen To The Professionals And Not Your Friends: Your friends may mean well, but when it comes down to it, the professionals know your situation more than anyone. They know what you are going through and are trained to deal with your situation. Consult with a counselor when you have questions about your mental health issues.

2. Distance Yourself From People Who Give You A Hard Time: Distance yourself from those people who won’t make an effort to help understand what you are going through. You need to surround yourself with positive and supportive people. I felt better when I avoided those people who would constantly argue with me regarding my anxieties and stresses.

3. Focus On The Facts of Your Situation And Not Your Thoughts: When people are depressed they rely on their fearful and negative thoughts.  Your fearful thoughts are exaggerated and are not based on reality. When you are depressed, focus on the facts of your current situation and not on what you think.

4. Learn From Your Experiences: In every anxiety-related situation I experienced, I learned what worked, what did not work, and what I needed to improve on as I managed my fears and anxieties. For example, you have a lot of anxiety and you decide to take a walk to help you feel better. The next time you feel anxious you can remind yourself that you got through it the last time by taking a walk.

5. You Can’t Predict The Future Regardless What Your Thoughts May Tell You: No one can predict the future with one hundred percent certainty. Even if the thing that you are afraid of does happen, there are circumstances and factors that you can’t predict which can be used to your advantage. For instance, you miss the deadline for a project at work. Suddenly, your boss comes to your office and tells you that the deadline is extended and that he forgot to tell you the day before. This unknown factor changes everything.

6. Things Change Over Time: Regardless of your current situation, things do not stay the same. You may feel very bad today, but it won’t last forever. Everything changes over time and this includes your current mental health issues.

BIOGRAPHY

Stan Popovich is the author of “A Layman’s Guide to Managing Fear”. For more information about Stan and to get some more free mental health advice please visit Stan’s website at http://www.managingfear.com

 

How I Overcame The Vicious Cycle Of Worry And Fear In My Life

 

 

By: Stan Popovich

Do you ever get stuck into that vicious cycle of worrying where you get overwhelmed with worrying and fearful thoughts? In return, this creates more panic and worry and eventually you can’t function because you are a basket case.

As the author of a managing fear book, I struggled with fear, anxiety, and stress for over 20 years. Eventually, I was able to overcome the endless cycle of fear and anxiety.  Here is a brief summary of what I did to get better.

1. I got advice from the professionals: The first thing I did was to talk to various counselors since they knew how to deal with fear and anxiety. Whenever I talked to the counselors, I would always bring a notebook and take notes so I would not forget the advice that was given to me. I then used their advice to overcome my anxiety issues.

2. I became an expert on dealing with fear and anxiety: I did everything possible to learn as much as I could in how to deal with my fears and anxiety. As a layman, I talked to professionals, read books, joined support groups, and learned from my experiences. I never stopped learning on how to handle my anxieties.

3. I surrounded myself with helpful people: I made it a habit of surrounding myself with supportive people who understood what I was going through. During some of my anxious times, one of my good friends gave me a hard time and was not very supportive. I tried to explain my situation to him, but he would not listen. One day, I got mad and told him to leave me alone if he was to continue getting on my case. He later apologized and was more understanding.

4. I learned how to manage my fearful thoughts: The key in overcoming the cycle of worry and fear is overcoming your fearful thoughts. Whenever I would get a negative and fearful thought, I would challenge that thought with positive statements and realistic thinking. I also made it a habit to focus on the facts of my current situation and not on my negative thoughts.

5. I was persistent: There were many times I felt like giving up because my fears and anxieties were so powerful and I didn’t know what to do. I worried about what would happen and that just made my fears that much stronger. During those times, I would consult with a professional and I made it a point to learn from my experiences so that I would be better able to handle these situations in the future.

6. I did not make excuses: With a lot of practice, I became very good at dealing with my fears and anxieties. I realized that the answers to my problems were out there, however it was up to me to find those techniques that would get rid of my fears and anxieties. I realized that making excuses for not getting help wasn’t going to make things any better.

7. I made the choice to get better: If you struggle with fear and anxiety there is hope, however you need to make the effort in getting better. The answers will not come to you. You have to make the effort to find the answers to overcome your situation.  It will not always be easy, but you can overcome the cycle of fear and worry with hard work and a willingness to learn from your every day experiences.

BIOGRAPHY

Stan Popovich is the author of “A Layman’s Guide to Managing Fear”. For more information about Stan and to get some more free mental health advice please visit Stan’s website at http://www.managingfear.com

 

 

 

 

 

How To Help A Relative With Their Anxieties And Depression

 

By: Stan Popovich

Do you know a friend or loved one who suffers from fear, anxiety, and depression and do not know what to do?  It can be frustrating to watch someone you know suffer and not be able to help them.

Here are six ways to help the person cope in these kinds of situations and the best way to deal with anxiety.

1.Learn as much as you can in managing anxiety and depression: There are many books and information that will educate you on how to deal with fear and anxiety. Share this information with the person who is struggling with their mental health issues.

2. Be understanding and patient with the person struggling with their fears: Dealing with depression and anxiety can be difficult for the person so do not add more problems than what is already there. Do not get into arguments with the person who is having a difficult time with their anxieties.

3.Talk to the person instead of talking at them:  It is important not to lecture the person who is struggling with anxiety and depression. Talk to the person about their issues without being rude. Most people will listen if you approach them in a proper manner.

4. Get Help: Seek help from a professional who can help your friend or relative with their mental health struggles. A counselor can give you advice and ideas on how to overcome anxiety, fear, and depression. Getting help from a professional is the number one priority in helping your loved one deal with fear and anxiety. Joining a local mental health support group can also be helpful. Talk to your doctor to get more information about potential groups in your area.

5. Talk to the person on what will happen if they do not get help:  Another way to convince the person who is struggling with fear and depression is to tell them what may happen if they don’t get some assistance. Anxiety and depression can make things worse and usually it won’t go away by itself without some kind of treatment.

6.Find Out The Reasons Why The Person Won’t Get Help: Address the issues on why the person will not get the necessary help. Many people who are struggling are fearful and frustrated. Try to find out the reasons why he or she won’t get the help they need and then try to find ways that will overcome their resistance of seeking assistance.

BIOGRAPHY

 

Stan Popovich is the author of “A Layman’s Guide to Managing Fear”. For more information about Stan and to get some more free mental health advice please visit Stan’s website at http://www.managingfear.com

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