Keep Nervousness from Becoming Anxiety

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Keep Nervousness from Becoming Anxiety

(May 3, 2007) -- Do you get nervous? Of course you do. We all do. It's a natural reaction when we expect that a negative thing is about to happen. That's why an upcoming IRS audit might have you feeling nervous, while visiting your favorite pizza place just has you feeling hungry.

Being nervous is usually a transitory, short-term feeling. Part of what causes such a feeling is that while our bodies are locked here in the present, our minds are free to wander into the past and the future.

Usually, thinking about things past and future is a pleasant thing. Our memories of past, good times bring comfort. Thinking about the future allows us to plan successfully.

But that mental peeking into the past or future can also bring nervousness. What is about to happen may remind us of a past negative experience. Or we may imagine the future and every possible catastrophe that might occur.

Nervous feelings can be overcome, or at least limited. The first step is realizing we are responsible for our own thoughts. If remembrances of past negative events are making us nervous, we can intentionally change to healthier, more comfortable thoughts.

One way to do that is to get your mind and body back in the same time zone. Remind yourself that this is now. Pay attention to what you're seeing, hearing, tasting and smelling. Focus on your breathing and take a good deep breath. Think about the present to lessen negative thoughts about the past or future.

In some cases, however, nervousness can be more serious. If you focus excessively on negative past events or bad future outcomes, simple, short-term nervousness can become real anxiety. Generally, being anxious is usually longer in duration and usually occurs with more intensity or more frequency than nervousness.

Source: THE AMERICAN COUNSELING ASSOCIATION

Last updated 05/07

Keep Nervousness from Becoming Anxiety

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