“How can I stop my fear and anxiety?”

Hello, 

Not knowing what you are afraid of and anxious about, it is difficult to advice. I would suggest finding a licensed psychologist in your area and seeking therapy to deal with those issues. You may also want to read "Anxiety and Phobia Workbook" by Edmund J. Bourne, and "Feeling Good" by Dr. David Burns. In case you are in FL, IN, or IL, call me. 
Take care and remain safe. 

Dr. Lata Sonpal

Fear and anxiety are based on worries regarding things that have not yet happened. The uncertainty of the future probably adds to your anxiety and fear. The thing is though, it’s important to recognize we have zero control over life circumstances we are faced with (for example, who asked for the Covid-19 pandemic??) but we have 100% control over how we RESPOND to circumstances. Also remember that fear and anxiety are FEELINGS and even if they feel intense at times, they cannot hurt you and they are not dangerous and they will pass. Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) has great present-focused coping skills to help reduce symptoms of fear and anxiety.

The short answer is, the same thing you would suggest that your friend do if his vehicle was idling at 3,000 rpm in park and sometimes automatically braked for no good reason. Take it into the shop and get someone to do whatever it takes to get that to stop happening. Fear and anxiety are both emotional and physiological responses to a perceived threat and are designed to get you to do something about it now, as if your life depended on it, which it almost always doesn't. If you can rationally conclude that some anticipated situation that your dread and tend to avoid is really not dangerous, then go towards it, stop avoiding it, and when nothing bad happens your mind will get the picture and will stop helping you to stay safe by scaring you. More often than not, the perceived threat is not happening at all and isn't about to happen, but your mind is responding as if it is. Clearing both of these unwanted responses is not that difficult for someone who knows how to do it, so take yourself to the shop.
I hope this is helpful.

Hi,

Thank you for your question. There are many ways to help with fear and anxiety. Anxiety reduction and relaxation techniques include deep diaphragmatic breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, grounding exercises, mindfulness meditation, practicing positive mantras or positive self-talk, guided imagery and visualization, journaling or stream of consciousness writing, drawing or other forms of artistic expression, listening to music, exercise or going for a walk, petting your dog, and reaching out for support from a trusted friend or family member.

I would also recommend seeking services from a mental health professional through therapy to explore other ways of dealing with anxiety that you can try. There are many forms of therapy to treat anxiety, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), psychodynamic therapy, humanistic therapy, Interpersonal Therapy (IPT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT).
I hope this has been helpful!

Best,

Jenna Torres, PsyD

Hello and thank you for your question,

Fear and anxiety can be addressed through therapy. Psychotropic medications are also available for treating anxiety.

Respectfully,

Patricia Harris | MA, MS, LPC

Thanks for asking. There are so many answers to this question depending on the source of your fears and anxiety. You may want to consult a therapist for specifics.

I would recommend seeing a therapist to help you gain coping skills, determine trigger sources. Also realize the individual has to at some point be able to confront the fear, as avoidance and resistance can increase the intensity of the fear and anxiety.

Face your fears and anxieties so they don't become debilitating. Identify ways to create a sense of personal control or mastery in your life. Practice stress reduction techniques, such as mindfulness meditation or aerobic exercise. Shift your focus to the positive emotions in daily life.

See this link for some insight into your question:
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/overcome-fear-anxiety