Being in an anxious state of mind can greatly influence what thoughts are more likely to enter our minds and which thoughts feel more true in the moment. Because anxiety is linked to our fight or flight response, it activates the parts of the brain that are involved in scanning our environment for threats and leads us to focus more on potential problems than positive outcomes. This means it is easy for anxious thoughts to mislead us.
Below are examples of common anxious thoughts that often feel true even if they are not.
- If I prepare and plan well enough, I can control the situation.
- If I do not have complete control of the situation, bad things will happen.
- The worst-case scenario is the most likely outcome.
- Since I can only imagine bad outcomes, it is best to avoid the situation altogether.
- I can not handle hard situations.
- Others can clearly see all of my flaws.
- If things are going too well, it means something bad is about to happen.
- If I feel a sense of impending doom, it means something bad is about to happen.
If the examples above sound familiar, you are not alone. Many people with high levels of anxiety battle this type of thinking daily. However, we can learn to identify when anxiety is telling a false story and create a less threat-based mindset with practice.
If you are ready to start taking control of your anxiety today, visit the Anxiety page to learn more or the Request an Appointment page to set up a free consultation call.