How to Prevent Anxiety from Ruining a Good Time

Why is it that whenever anything goes our way, we always seem to find a way to diminish our achievements or our good fortune? Our anxiety minimizes the success or put a damper on our triumphs to make them seem less impressive. In this article we’ll take a look at how to prevent anxiety from ruining a pleasant experience.

Compliments and good feedback might be difficult for some women to take in and believe when they receive them. They put a lot of effort into becoming parents, partners, friends, and coworkers, but they aren’t comfortable claiming their strengths because nervous portions of themselves make them feel “less than” or that they aren’t good enough.

What exactly is going on here? In therapy, clients sometimes express themselves as follows:

“I feel like an imposter.”

You put in the effort, and you’re pleased with where your efforts are leading you to direct your energies. After that, there is a whisper that says, “If they only knew the truth, they’d see that I don’t know what I’m doing.” It causes you to question the veracity of all of your previous achievements.

“I don’t want to put a damper on my own good luck.”

You can argue with yourself that if you acknowledge the positive, you are inviting failure or unlucky circumstances into your life. You should try to have as few achievements as possible, either to better prepare yourself for the worst possible outcome or to prevent undesirable events from taking place. Your preoccupation with the possibility that undesirable events will occur in the future prevents you from appreciating what is now in the here and now.

“I’m nobody extraordinary.”

When someone compliments you, you may respond by saying, “It was easy. I didn’t put in any real effort at all. That was something that anyone might have done.” It is difficult to accept compliments and to take ownership of what other people perceive in you if you are unable to see yourself as a successful mother, partner, friend, or workplace.

“I don’t want to come across as arrogant.”

By maintaining a low profile, you divert attention away from yourself and make yourself appear to others as a less dangerous opponent. But if you always try to keep your light concealed from the world, you might end up feeling dissatisfied and resentful that other people don’t see everything you accomplish.

“I should respect the accomplishments of others in higher esteem than my own.”

It’s the way you’ve gone through life up until this point. The issue arises when you begin to have feelings of resentment or irritation toward the individuals who assist you because you no longer have the impression that you are a priority in their lives.

Why does minimizing what you do cause anxiety?

People have a strong desire to feel that they are linked to others. It’s a natural element of being human, and it always makes us happy when it happens. However, if we reject a complement when it is offered, put the requirements of others ahead of our own at all times, or conceal who we truly are from those around us, we will end up feeling estranged from the people we love.

Because of the barriers that anxiety have places in the path, we are unable to achieve the connections that we so desperately seek. This disconnection might contribute to feelings of anxiousness.

Anxiety can also be caused by a disconnect inside oneself, such as when one part of you urges you to tell others about your wonderful news while another part of you encourages you to keep it to yourself. When you are at war with yourself, you may experience feelings of stress as well as high levels of anxiety. You are unable to rest or feel at ease because of the conflict going on inside of you.

Owning your goodness and badness

However, despite the fact that we all experience ups and downs, triumphs and defeats, good fortune and bad, we still hold ourselves to an impossible standard of perfection. We are able to accept that other people have flaws, but we have this idea that we have to be perfect.

It is simpler and more comfortable to share our authentic selves with others if we have reached the point where we have accepted ourselves for who we are, owning both our strengths and our flaws. Sharing when you’ve had a wonderful day and when you’ve struggled, when you’ve been happy and when you’ve been sad, when you’ve succeeded and when you’ve failed – all of these are aspects of being your authentic self.

Taking responsibility for all aspects of ourselves, including our thoughts and feelings, can help reduce worry. It’s possible that we’ll start to feel more connected to our true selves as well as to the people around us, which will make it easier and more comfortable for us to live our lives. Therefore, what should we do?

How to prevent anxiety by practicing mindfulness

When we pay attention “in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally,” as Jon Kabat-Zinn, the founder of the mindfulness movement in the United States, puts it, “being mindful” implies that we pay attention “in a particular way.”

We have the ability to be fully present in the here and now, rather than allowing our anxiety, negative self-talk, or attempts to exert control over the future to consume us. This allows us to more fully enjoy the moment as it is unfolding.

The following is a list of some easy and quick techniques for how to prevent anxiety by incorporating greater attention into your day-to-day life:

Deep breathing

If you’re feeling anxiety, give yourself three focused deep breaths and count to three after each one. You can practice deep breathing by counting your inhalations and exhalations on your fingers if you are unsure how to do it properly.

Take a breath in for the count of seven, hold it for the count of eleven, and then repeat. This practice has the potential to assist in calming your nervous system while also bringing awareness to your breathing (which is happening right here, right now).

Get some air

Take a stroll in the fresh air and focus intently on what you perceive around you. What do you notice with your eyes, nose, skin, and ears? Examine the hues, the breeze that brushes across your skin, the sensation of your feet striking the ground, and the sounds that are all around you. If you carry water with you on your stroll, pay attention to how it tastes and how it feels when you swallow it, especially in the back of your throat and tongue.

Notice the voice of your inner critic

Pay attention to the way in which you converse with yourself. Pause for a few moments if you feel that you are being overly critical of yourself, berating yourself when you make a mistake, or reminding yourself of all the ways in which you fall short.

Take a few slow, deep breaths and then ask yourself, “Would I talk like this to a close friend?” If the answer is “no,” then try to talk to yourself in a loving and compassionate manner, as if you were your own best friend.

Incorporating the practice of mindfulness into your day-to-day existence takes practice on a regular basis. Therefore, treat yourself well and get some practice with mindfulness.

Understanding your anxiety

People usually seek help from professionals in the field of mental health when they are unable to rid themselves of lingering uncertainties and persistent emotions of poor self-esteem. When these doubts are not based in objective reality, therapists may work to help people address factors that have contributed to the development of the inner critic. For example, a student who graduated at the top of his or her class may feel like an academic failure due to an aggressive inner critic.

There are occasions when feelings of anxiety or despair are the cause of the nagging experience of having an inner critic. People who suffer from these illnesses frequently have a feeling that they are chronically inadequate and are extremely critical of themselves. In situations like these, a mental health practitioner will treat the underlying problem, which, in turn, may decrease or otherwise alter the influence of a person’s inner critic.

Contact us if you need help dealing with anxiety, accepting yourself, or building a mindfulness practice, and one of the counselors at Newbury Park Christian Counseling will be happy to speak with you.