Without realizing it, we have certain habits that trap us in our anxiety disorders. In fact, we’re stuck in a vicious circle. That’s why here are the 5 behaviors we need to eliminate from our daily lives to free ourselves from anxiety and get better.

1 – Believing that anxiety disorders only happen to you

Everyone has anxiety disorders. So, for some, they are more recurrent than others and, above all, more burdensome than others.

But we all have very negative thoughts, this tendency to make disaster-movies in our heads, about anything and everything.

The fear of being burgled while packing for vacation.

The fear of catching a disease, the fear of dying on the plane that will take us on vacation in 3 months’ time.

So, all these anxieties, all these films are playing in the heads of each and every one of us.

In fact, you’re not the only person in the world to have anxiety disorders. To varying degrees, we all have them.

So breathe.

Because realizing that we’re not alone, that we all share this, gives us more strength in those moments when our anxiety disorders are really too much to bear.

So, when it gets too heavy, realize that you’re not alone, that other people like you are suffering from anxiety disorders right now.

2 – Believing that anxiety disorders are a curse

So, as we’ve seen, anxiety disorders are common to everyone, albeit to varying degrees.

In other words, just because you have these kinds of thoughts and movies in your head doesn’t mean you’re not “normal”, that you have a serious problem and that you’re crazy.

In fact, having anxiety disorders is not a curse.

In fact, it’s just that you may be listening to your thoughts far too much than the average person.

It’s also possible that you give them too much power.

In fact, it’s normal to have a lot of fears. But the problem is when we let them rule our lives. In other words, we make decisions based on our fears.

For example: we stop flying, we stop leaving the house…

That’s why I wholeheartedly invite you to stop living with your anxiety disorders as if they were a curse that had fallen upon you and against which you can do nothing.

You can learn to live with your anxiety disorders. You can learn to reduce their intensity and recurrence.

First of all, by understanding that you’re a perfectly normal person who simply needs to learn to take a step back from certain thoughts, from a tendency to listen to them too much, to believe them and let them decide.

If you can’t do this on your own, I wholeheartedly invite you to work with a therapist.

3 – Living on autopilot

On a daily basis, we’ve become accustomed to going to work, answering our e-mails, going to meetings, and then coming home to do the housework, watch TV or social networks, all on automatic pilot.

In other words, everything we do on a day-to-day basis is done while lost in thought.

In fact, we do things like automatons, putting no presence into what we’re doing, so focused are we on what we’re thinking or imagining.

In other words, our anxious thoughts never leave us. We never pause, we never step back.

That’s why I wholeheartedly invite you to learn to act consciously.

Put some awareness back when you do everyday things.

Really look, really listen, really feel.

Connect with your 5 senses.

Step back from your thoughts. Come back to your body, your heart too. Come back to your emotions.

Indeed, instead of asking yourself, “What am I thinking?” ask yourself, “What am I feeling right now?”

4 – Shutting up and brooding about anxiety disorders

Our relationships are a source of anxiety disorders. Because we wonder what so-and-so thinks of us, of what we’re doing. We wonder why so-and-so didn’t say hello today…

And all these anxiety-ridden questions keep going round and round in our heads, because we’re not communicating with others.

In fact, we keep quiet and brood in our own corner.

Stop!

We can’t allow misunderstandings to become anxiety disorders.

So, if you agree with this, it’s time to dare to communicate with others.

Go to that so-and-so whose opinion interests you and ask him what he thinks. Go up to that other so-and-so and say hello. Take the first step.

In fact, communicate to stop getting lost in your thoughts, which tell you nothing but scary stories.

Because you’re not a magician, you don’t know what’s going on in other people’s heads, so communicate. You have no other choice if you want to detach yourself from your anxiety disorders.

5 – Not cultivating your passions

What do you do in the evening before going to bed? What do you do on weekends? On your days off, your vacations?

Do you cultivate your passions or do things to “pass” the time?

Do you take care every day to do something that makes your soul vibrate, that puts butterflies in your stomach?

Then it’s high time you nurtured your passions, because that’s the best way to distract yourself from your anxiety disorders.

After all, haven’t you noticed that anxiety disorders trap us in a vicious circle?

The more negative we think, the less we want to do happy things, and the less happy things we do, the more negative we think.

That’s why it’s high time to break this vicious circle.

So cultivate your passions.

Start somewhere. Start with what you loved to do as a child, or do what those people on social networks do that you look at with envy.

Follow your curiosity, your joy, because they’ll lead you to a sweeter, happier everyday life.

Get out of your thoughts!

It’s time to realize that we’re not here to think, we’re here to live!

So stop thinking, start living!

Find out more:

I invite you to read these 2 complementary articles:

Discover How to treat anxiety: 6 easy-to-follow tips
Discover How to deal with anxiety: 6 tips for calming down

I recommend this inspiring book:

The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook by Edmund J. Bourne

The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook by Edmund J. Bourne is a comprehensive guide for people with anxiety disorders. It provides practical tools, exercises and cognitive-behavioral techniques for understanding and effectively managing anxiety. With an emphasis on self-help, it enables readers to recognize the sources of their anxiety, develop coping mechanisms and take steps to overcome anxious thoughts and behaviors. This workbook is a valuable resource for anyone seeking strategies to navigate and mitigate the challenges associated with anxiety disorders.

Overall, it’s an excellent resource for anyone struggling with anxiety or phobias. The book is comprehensive, well-researched and provides readers with a wide range of practical strategies for managing their anxiety. Whether you’re struggling with social anxiety, panic attacks or stress and worry in general, this book is sure to offer valuable ideas and tools for overcoming anxiety.

Thank you very much for reading this article.

If you liked it, let me know in the comments.

Take care of yourself