Dr. Linda Helps - Once you've learned to recognized anxiety, work on managing it and eventually freeing yourself from this problem. Make these changes and you'll be on the road to an anxiety free life.

Practical Steps from Getting Unstuck

• Consider your diet. Food, stress, and mood are interrelated. Limit salt, alcohol, preservatives, and hormones from food intake. A good registered dietitian can work with you on making diet changes that may trigger anxiety.
  
• Eliminate or cut back on caffeine; it can trigger anxiety.
  
• Stop smoking; it is a stimulant and tends to increase anxiety.
  
• Evaluate your use of medications or drugs you take. Certain medications contain stimulants that can trigger anxiety. Anxiety also can be a side effect from specific medications. Check with your doctor.
  
• Talk to a physician about anti-anxiety medications. Medication may not be necessary in all cases, but can be helpful in others. The newer drugs are not addictive and have fewer side effects.
  
• Try vitamin supplements. Add B and C to your daily intake. These anti-stress vitamins may increase your energy. Calcium has a calming effect on the nervous system as well.
  
• Ask a competent health practitioner about natural herbs. Herbs, such as Kava Kava, are being evaluated by the established medical community. Natural approaches hold promise, but work with someone knowledgeable and able to coordinate your care with other medications and prescriptions.
  
• Exercise. This helps mood and decreases stress.
  
• Relax. Practice the numerous relaxation methods that teach you how to calm your physical body and mind.
  
• Pay attention to self-talk. Negative self-talk brings on anxiety.
  
• Learn to identify and express feelings. Behind anxiety can be pent up anger or sadness.
  
• Learn to be assertive, and speak up!
  
• Know what you believe. You can be free of anxiety. Do not believe you have to suffer with this the rest of your life.
  
• Remember God promises His presence and a sound mind.
  
• Be anxious about nothing (Philippians 4:6). Learn how to apply this scripture.
  
• Pray away anxiety. Do not forget the power of prayer and taking your cares to God.
  
• Meditate on God's Word.
  
• Do not give in to fear and anxiety. Fight back with the Word and these practical steps.
  
• Deal with the losses you have experienced. This could be the root of your anxiety problems.
  
• Give thanks in spite of your circumstances. You are not thanking God for anxiety but that He has kept you through a number of difficult circumstances.
  
• Do not be afraid to get help. You may need professional help. That's OK! Work with a Christian therapist who can incorporate sound therapy principles with biblical promises.

*Tips are from Getting Unstuck, published by Creation House (1999)

Dr. Mintle – author, professor, Approved Supervisor and Clinical member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy – is a speaker and media personality, as well as a licensed clinical social worker with over twenty years in psychotherapy practice.

For more articles and information, visit Dr. Linda Mintle's Web site.