How are you on this fine day in October? The sun is finally coming out here in southern New England.

Recently I’ve been thinking about anxiety and stress. Well I’m always thinking about it, and therein lies the problem for many of us who are feeling stressed, overwhelmed and anxious.

To stop anxiety and stress, one of the most effective things you can do is stop thinking and start doing.

Here’s the cycle as I see it…something happens or we’re afraid of something happening and that triggers anxiety and stress.

Rather than immediately kicking into fight or flight we take a middle road…paralysis. Just like a rabbit caught in the headlights, we freeze.

In that state all we can do is ruminate about whatever it is that triggered our reaction in the first place…and we spin around and around in it. The more we think about it the more the anxiety and stress escalates. Sound familiar?

It is imperative to break the cycle, and the best way I know is to take action. In my experience it doesn’t even really matter if it’s the best action. What matters is that we DO something.

So try this to stop anxiety and reduce stress…

1. Stop

2. Don’t try to talk yourself out of it (doesn’t work and it’s counterproductive).

3. Ask yourself what small step you could take to solve or prevent the problem that’s causing stress and anxiety.

It doesn’t have to be the full solution, just one small step in the direction of a solution.

If you don’t know what direction, just take your best shot because it really doesn’t matter. In my experience even the wrong action breaks the log jam of emotion, which in turn, frees us to think more clearly and take more effective action.

4. Do it. Take action. Take that one small step.

5. Then notice how you’re feeling. Better?

Hope that helps,

Susan

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