Common Thoughts for People Who Experience Anxiety

Some thoughts are common and normal for people who are experiencing anxiety. When we are anxious, we can accept these thoughts as true and accurate even when they are just features of our anxiety. Mindfulness helps us step back and decide whether to take our thoughts seriously. Typically, we believe these thoughts less when we feel good.

Common Anxious Thoughts Examples:

1.       I worry about not being able to handle problems in life as well as others seem to be.

2.       I worry about my behavior.

3.       I think I’m a failure.

4.       I worry about saying or doing the wrong things when I am with people I do not know.

5.       I worry that I am less capable than others.

6.       I worry about my failures and weaknesses.

7.       I worry about making a fool of myself.

8.       I worry about saying or doing the wrong thing with people I do not know.

9.       I worry about my health.

10.   I worry about becoming seriously physically ill

11.   If I have physical symptoms, I tend to think of the worst possible outcome and feel worried.

12.   When I think about the future, I think more about the negative than the positive things that can happen.

Reflection

Sometimes, we can interpret our worry, dread, and avoidance as personal failings. We can think that since we feel worried and want to avoid stressors, we are weak, or we have a personality defect,

However, this is not the case. Someone who is tired because they are sick is not lazy, and anxious people are not weak. It is just a symptom of our anxiety.

 

Breathwork for Anxiety

Say the following phases silently to yourself.

·         Inhaling (I am breathing in calm)

·         Exhaling (I am releasing tension)

 

Positive Self-Talk for Anxiety

Even though I feel intense anxiety, I am safe and I will be okay.

 

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