Recently I met with a client who was in a high state of anxiety. I knew how to diagnose it since, because of my recent decision to fill my brain with good information, I learned about anxiety while watching a show called Brain Games on the National Geographic channel.
Anxiety is the fear of what MIGHT happen. Anticipating an unpleasant event can cause more harm than the actual event. If you’ve ever waited to see the dentist, saw a cop on the side of the road as you passed by while speeding, or heard the phrase “wait till your father gets home!” then you’ve experienced anxiety.
My client was concerned about several possible unpleasant futures. As he described them to me, I couldn’t help but picture them as annoying, creepy monkeys climbing all over his back. We spent over an hour identifying each “monkey” and devising a strategy to get rid of it. By identifying each one and coming up with a plan to address it and attack it, the monkeys began disappearing and his anxiety seemed to lessen as well.
- Burying problems and not addressing them won’t make them go away. The anticipation of a bad outcome is often far worse than the event itself. What are you anxiously anticipating?
- A possible job loss? (work more efficiently or send out some resumes)
- A drop in income? (start identify expenses to cut and ways to supplement income)
- A problem relationship? (confront the person and get the issues out on the table)
- A bleak professional future? (see a career coach and get a new plan in place)
Pair up your anxiety with a solution. You’re a victim only if you choose to be. Some folks believe may believe we evolved from monkeys but it doesn’t mean we have to carry them around with us. Take some time this week to kick the monkeys off your back and take control of your own destiny.