Sit With Anxiety

If you can sit with anxiety, no matter how bad it is, the anxiety will lessen. Don’t listen to your thoughts that tell you that you cannot handle it or that something terrible is going to happen if you continue to feel anxious. These thoughts are false, and the physical sensations you feel are a normal part of the anxiety response. It is very important not to discontinue exposure until the anxiety has diminished, or you risk reinforcing the anxiety and possibly even making it worse. As you sit with the anxiety, use the relaxation techniques you have been practicing to help you reduce the anxiety more quickly. Focus on your breath, and not on the anxious thoughts and feelings. You can override the anxiety response. Over time, with repeated exposure, a situation that used to cause significant anxiety will cause less and less-a process known as habituation.

Keep practicing your relaxation, in addition to the exposure sessions!