Staying Positive in a Freaked-Out World – What Are the Sources of Your Anxiety?

Posted on September 8th, 2009, by Meggin McIntosh, Ph.D.

If you are feeling a little (or very!) freaked-out, then start by identifying what some of the sources of your anxiety are. Write down as many as you can identify. The idea is to get the unspoken (and the spoken) anxieties out in writing. Just write one idea after another after another – until you think maybe you have them all written down. It might be a word, phrase, or a tangle of words & phrases…whatever will express for you those anxiety sources you are experiencing.

In case you need some examples to get you going, here are some…

The sources of your anxiety could be money.
It could be your job.
It might be keeping your job.
It might be losing your job,
It might be changes in your job,

The point here is to be specific rather than just saying “my job.” What is it about your job? Or, maybe it’s not your job but rather…

Maybe you’re feeling anxious about the war or wars that are going on.
Maybe it is the government, and I’m using that as a very broad term.
Are you anxious about the federal government?
State government?
Your county or city government?

What is it that you feel anxiety around, if at all?

Is it your house?
Maybe it’s anxiety around being able to keep your house?
Are you going to lose your house?
Is your house a complete wreck and that’s what is making you feel stressed and anxious?
Is there someone living in your house that is source of
Or what is it exactly about your house or living space?
Do you feel anxious about your religion?
Are you worried for some reason about your reputation?
What about your family? You can think very narrowly or very broadly.
Are there some people in your family who are ill right now?
Maybe they’re going through some terrible pain and you feel unable to do anything about it.
Maybe you feel anxious because you live far from your family.
Maybe you feel anxious because you live close to your family – I don’t know what it is for you. I’m just trying to give you some possible prompts.
Your schedule could be causing anxiety, your to-do list, all the projects that you’re currently working on, both personal and professional.
Do you have relationships that are causing anxiety for you?

If you work in a toxic work environment, you may experience…

Peers that are causing you anxiety?
Maybe attitudes of negativity?
Maybe there’s gossip?
Maybe you’re fearful because you’re being intimidated or bullied by someone else?

Tomorrow’s post will encourage you to get more specific…because only then can you begin to do something about the stress….

And if you are well aware that you – or those around you – are freaked-out to one degree or another and you can see that it is taking a toll, then I hope you will join us in the Staying Positive Society. Here’s where to get all the info:

http://www.StayingPositiveinaFreakedOutWorld.com. I look forward to having you there!

Through her company, Emphasis on Excellence, Inc. (http://www.meggin.com), Meggin serves those individuals who want to know, feel, dream, and do…more…and who want to do so with consciousness, clarity, and conviction. If you think this sounds interesting, it is!!