Goals for people with Anxiety

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Resolutions for People With Anxiety Disorders

Ten goals for the New Year

By <A HREF= " http://panicdisorder.about.com/mbiopage.htm " >Cathleen Henning</A>

What should take priority in the New Year if you have an anxiety disorder?

Truthfully, only you can decide for yourself. Here, though, are ten

suggestions for directions you can take in your recovery this year. If you're

not where you want to be, use the New Year to make changes in how you think

about your anxiety treatment.

I resolve to get out of my treatment rut. Have you been taking a medication

for a long time that doesn't help you enough to function fully? Do you feel

unsatisfied with your progress in therapy? What anxiety treatments haven't

you tried? Let this year be a time to make some changes. Take charge and talk

to your treatment providers about what isn't (and is) working. If they aren't

open to change, maybe it's time to change providers. If you've never tried

therapy, consider doing so. The point is, if you're not where you want to be,

then don't continue with what you're doing if it's not working. (Do not make

medication changes without talking to your treatment provider!)

I resolve to seek professional help if I haven't already. It's not always

easy to seek help, but most people with anxiety disorders benefit from

professional help, whether it's with medication or therapy or a combination.

Start with your family doctor if you don't know where to turn, but do

consider seeking a mental health provider for further treatment (your doctor

will often have recommendations). If you're frightened about going alone, ask

someone close to help. It might not be easy to ask, but you'll be relieved to

have help (and, believe it or not, your friend or family member will be glad

to be able to do something).

I resolve to ask family and friends for help and encouragement. It's true

that telling people about our disorders doesn't always turn out the way we'd

like. Overall, though, (and research has shown this), family and friends do

want to help in some way. If it turns out that yours do not, you will need to

find support elsewhere, but you won't know if they'll help unless you ask.

Different people will help you in different ways. Accept what each can offer.

Your recovery has a better chance with a strong support system.

I resolve to build a support system rather than relying on only one family

member or friend. It's tempting to rely on one support person. If you have a

severe condition like agoraphobia, it's even natural to be comfortable with

only one specific person in frightening situations. However, with any anxiety

disorder, it's important to keep from asking one person to do everything. The

person may burn out, and your relationship could suffer. Build a support

system. Look to different people for different needs. Of course, you will

give back, too, because we do that with the people we love. Don't let your

world shrink to one person because both of you need a circle of friends and

loved ones. We all do.

I resolve to take care of my body because the health of my body affects my

entire being. Whether you believe anxiety disorders are psychological,

physiological, or both, you can also believe that a healthy body will help

your anxiety recovery. Exercise has been shown to reduce stress and relieve

depression. Certain substances, like caffeine, alcohol and nicotine, may

worsen your disorder. Good nutrition has numerous benefits; some studies even

show that foods rich in carbohydrates can have a positive effect on the mind.

Don't forget about the benefits of relaxation or meditation, too.

I resolve to learn new self-help techniques to supplement my current

treatment. If you're taking medication or going to therapy once a week and

doing nothing else, you may be surprised to find out what else you can do. A

good anxiety self-help book can help you learn all kinds of techniques like

visualization and breathing exercises. If your current treatment is helping,

but you want to take it one step further, learn more about what you can do on

your own.

I resolve to make time for activities I enjoy rather than focusing on how I

feel all the time. It's not unusual for a person to give up hobbies and

interests when an anxiety disorder first develops. As it progresses, the

person may become so focused on it that it seems impossible to return to

favorite activities. Even if you're doing better now, you may not be making

time for fun. Try to do so. It may be difficult at first, but if you make

time on a regular basis, you may find yourself enjoying your hobbies again.

If you don't, maybe you've changed. Think of it as an adventure and start

searching for new interests!

I resolve to communicate with others who have anxiety disorders so I will

feel less alone. Even the person with the most reliable support system of

friends and family will often need the support of others with anxiety

disorders. Only people with anxiety disorders know what they feel like.

Family and friends can give us so much help and love, but sometimes we just

need to chat with others who know how we feel. There are many support groups

in cities and towns around the world, and you can also find them online.

Whatever you think is your quirkiest symptom or behavior, you will no doubt

find someone else, probably many people, who know what you mean.

I resolve to praise myself each day for my strength and courage in the face

of a difficult disorder. You're not reading this page because you're a coward

or a weakling or a failure. You're reading it because you want to get well.

You're able to sit there and read it because you made it here. You've made it

through hours and days with your anxiety disorder. You have your anxiety

disorder because you have it. If you were weak, you wouldn't be able to

survive it. So, each morning, look at yourself in the mirror and give

yourself the praise you deserve. You had the courage to get out of bed this

morning. Each step you take means you can take as many more as you need.

I resolve to take control of my well-being, to never give up, and to keep

seeking answers until I am well again. You can't give up. You haven't given

up yet, so you will not give up now or tomorrow or the next day. There are

answers out there for you. You may feel like you've tried everything, but

there is so much to try. Look to the ends of the earth for the most

unbelievable treatments you can find, if the conventional ones aren't

helping. Believe in yourself and believe that your life can be what you want

it to be.

Copyright © 2002 <A

HREF= " http://panicdisorder.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.copi\

ngwithanxiety.com " >Cathleen Henning</A>. All rights reserved.

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this is extremely helpful for me. thank you for posting it :-)

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