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12 Truths about You and Anxiety

Anxiety lies to mask reality, but there are certain truths about you and anxiety that show that you are stronger than your anxiety. That you are stronger than your anxiety is actually another truth. In the last post, I exposed 12 lies anxiety tells you. The following 12 truths counter those lies. Read them. Ponder them. Believe the truths about you and anxiety.

12 Truths about You and Anxiety That You Can Believe In

  1. You live now, in the present. The past is over. Focus on the present moment and living it fully. In the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson,

    Finish every day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt have crept in; forget them as soon as you can....This day is all that is good and fair. It is too dear, with its hopes and invitations, to waste a moment on yesterdays.

  2. The future isn't happening yet. You have the power to do what you can in every moment of your life. That's the best way to approach the future anxiety-free (Avoid Future-Tripping When You Have Anxiety).
  3. These 12 truths about you and anxiety are stronger than the lies anxiety tells. Knowing and living the truths about you and anxiety will help you beat it.Worrying doesn't change a thing. You can focus, instead, on what you can do about a situation.
  4. You are more than good enough. That you don't have to be perfect in order to thrive is an important truth for you and anxiety. When anxiety lies to you by telling you you're not good enough, show it the truth by listing ways you are good enough.
  5. Most people aren't judging you. Pay attention to the interactions that are going well, and keep track of the things you're doing right. (What Does Anxiety Say About You?)
  6. Staying up at night worrying won't actually solve anything. True, it's hard to get the anxious brain to be quiet, but it's possible to gain back your much-needed sleep. (Nighttime Anxiety and Getting Back to Sleep)
  7. You are important, and your thoughts count. Worried about the consequences of speaking up? List them; you just might see that even with negative outcomes, the world (with you in it) will keep going.
  8. You're intelligent with a lot to offer. You have character strengths and talents. Grab some magazines and create a collage that represents the good about you. You won't have a blank page at the end.
  9. Asking for things isn't bothering people. People can't mind-read, which means we can, and should, ask for what we need. (Speaking Up Will Increase Your Self-Esteem)
  10. Panic attacks don't mean you're dying. Panic attacks are a brain and body reaction to fear. Once a doctor has explored panic attack causes, you can put this worry aside and deal with other aspects of panic.
  11. You can achieve your goals. Not only can you dream, you can pursue your dreams. Set goals and take steps every day to get there. You don't have to wait for anxiety to get out of the way.
  12. You're not going crazy. The truth is that your mind stays right where it should, and you are capable of thinking, acting, and problem-solving. Feeling crazy isn't the same as being crazy.

Live the Truths about You and Anxiety

Anxiety is a habitual liar, and it won't give up easily. Recognizing the lies and knowing the truths about you and anxiety that replace the lies will go a long way in overcoming anxiety. Just as anxiety repeats the lies, you'll likely need to repeat the truths over and over again. Knowing them, repeating them, and acting on them will make your voice louder than anxiety's voice.

Let's connect. I blog here. Find me on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Pinterest. My mental health novels, including one about severe anxiety, are here.

APA Reference
Peterson, T. (2016, April 21). 12 Truths about You and Anxiety, HealthyPlace. Retrieved on 2024, March 18 from https://www.healthyplace.com/blogs/anxiety-schmanxiety/2016/04/12-truths-about-you-and-anxiety



Author: Tanya J. Peterson, MS, NCC, DAIS

Tanya J. Peterson is the author of numerous anxiety self-help books, including The Morning Magic 5-Minute Journal, The Mindful Path Through Anxiety, 101 Ways to Help Stop Anxiety, The 5-Minute Anxiety Relief Journal, The Mindfulness Journal for Anxiety, The Mindfulness Workbook for Anxiety, and Break Free: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in 3 steps. She has also written five critically acclaimed, award-winning novels about life with mental health challenges. She delivers workshops for all ages and provides online and in-person mental health education for youth. She has shared information about creating a quality life on podcasts, summits, print and online interviews and articles, and at speaking events. Tanya is a Diplomate of the American Institution of Stress helping to educate others about stress and provide useful tools for handling it well in order to live a healthy and vibrant life. Find her on her website, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Isaac
May, 8 2018 at 11:54 am

Your posts really help me. I love when you, said, "Feeling crazy isn’t the same as being crazy". Those words gave me a lot of peace an tranquility.

Geoffrey
June, 10 2016 at 5:23 am

You have captured it well

Fazal
June, 9 2016 at 2:58 am

I am agreed with your statement that we have power to do what we can so we should work in a better way and should live anxiety free for the future.
We should make proper decisions and set goals for our life. If we are focusing on our goals and working by adopting a proper way then we can achieve success. When we are not working in a right manner then of course this will be difficult to get success and ultimately we will get worried. So this phenomenon works our whole life various complexes will also become cause of anxiety.
I found a good piece of study at https://goo.gl/CIwTYm and would love to mention about a theory of using healthy food. A study depicts that adults who consume good quantity of fermented foods can experience less vulnerability to suffer social anxiety.

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

June, 9 2016 at 11:58 am

Hello Fazal,
You captured very well the control people do have over their lives -- and anxiety. Setting goals and creating intentional, realistic action plans for achieving them is a powerful way to be in charge of ourselves and thus reduce anxiety. Thank you for sharing the link to the article about social anxiety and fermented food. I haven't read specifically about fermented foods before, and I'm always glad to learn about new information. I do know that nutrition plays a key role in mental health and wellbeing, so of course this makes sense. I appreciate your sharing it for other readers to check out if they want to.

Hayley Butler
April, 21 2016 at 7:36 pm

Your posts really help me get through the week. I am a college student and am graduating this semester. I work at a job where I have to talk to a lot of people. Thanks to your posts, I am actually able to get through conversations with second guessing myself or freaking out.

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

April, 22 2016 at 11:48 am

Hello Hayley,
Congratulations on your upcoming college graduation! And congratulations on hanging in there and moving forward with a job that sounds like its uncomfortable and anxiety-provoking. That really is an accomplishment to own. I completely understand the second-guessing and freaking out that so often accompanies anxiety in general and social anxiety in particular. We really are stronger than anxiety, and as you know, it's possible to get through things (and it's possible to get past them, too!). Embrace these 12 things that really are true!

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