Have your efforts to avoid or eliminate anxiety increased your effectiveness
or increased your suffering?
How have these efforts impacted your ability to live a meaningful, values-based life?
How would your life be different if you had NO ANXIETY? It would probably be much more problematic than it is now. Anxiety is, at its core, merely a signaling device designed to increase your focus and prepare you to address potential dangers. Would you really want to get rid of such a helpful device? Anxiety also provides that additional motivation or “push” to complete tasks and achieve goals. Therefore, anxiety is NOT THE PROBLEM! It is our perspective on anxiety and our belief that anxiety is “bad” and should be avoided or eliminated that creates more suffering and pain than is necessary.
If your current coping strategies seem more effective at increasing suffering and reducing productivity and pleasure, then perhaps Bayview Counseling Services can offer you useful tools and skills that will:
- help you identify and replace ineffective coping strategies with new behaviors that will increase your tolerance and build resilience to stress and anxiety.
- get a better understanding of the benefits of anxiety so that you can change your perspective and your relationship with anxiety.
- learn how to use your anxiety (because, let’s face it—it’s not going anywhere) to help you achieve goals and live life fully.