In the first part of this series (see here), I looked at what overthinking was and signs that it is affecting us in a problematic way. You would think that given this is an automatic defense mechanism that it would be useful and helpful to do. Looking at a problem from different angles and thoroughly can be beneficial. And even the right thing to do for big life-changing decision but thinking (or problem-solving) is not […]
Tag Archives: Anxiety
What is overthinking? – Part 1
Have you ever been told you’re overthinking things? The brain has the capacity for deep and complex thoughts, but overthinking usually means your thoughts are stuck in a loop with no apparent resolution. This means that usually these thoughts are unproductive, unhelpful and in extreme case can have a negative impact on health. It seems to also be called “rumination” if the thoughts deal with past or present events or situations. It also seems to […]
Anxiety about anxiety – Part 5
Why is anxiety so difficult to talk about? Or read about? While researching and writing the anxiety series of articles, I’ve had to wrestle with my own anxiety and self-doubt. Who am I to be writing about all of this? How could I add value to what was already out there? I’m writing about an important subject, one that touches me and touches many people I care about. That is how I got through the […]
How to manage anxiety? Tips and tricks – Anxiety Part 4
If your anxiety is mild to moderate it is possible that one of the following strategies (or a combination of them) can be sufficient to help manage your anxiety. Even if it is severe, it can be good to combine these strategies with your treatment and in fact they are often recommended by therapists to add some of these into your routine. Managing anxiety is also about your mindset, from the book by Russ Harris […]
What is anxiety? – Part 3: Treatments and Creativity
What are the treatments for anxiety? Since there are so many different types of disorders and anxiety can be more difficult to treat depending on the type, it is important to keep trying until you find something that works for you. There are many strategies that professionals can use to treat anxiety disorders. Knowing what they are can help you ask the right questions to your professional and get at the right treatment quicker. These […]
What is anxiety? Part 2 Symptoms and types of disorders
Part 2: Physical responses and types of anxiety disorders Anxiety produces a complex series of reaction in the body, all aimed at helping us avoid perceived dangers and survive. It triggers our bodies’ flight, fight or freeze response. If this triggering happens too often, we can develop an anxiety disorder. These physical symptoms include (but are not limited to): Palpitations/ Increased heart rate Increased blood pressure/ Sweating Shortness of breath/ Hyperventilation Muscle tension/ Shaking Strangely […]
What is anxiety?
Anxiety is defined as a feeling of worry, being nervous, or feeling uneasy about an imminent event or about an uncertain outcome. It affects us most when we are trying to act (or thinking about acting) and we have that uneasy feeling in the pit of our stomachs. In psychiatry, it is defined as a nervous disorder characterized by a state of excessive uneasiness and apprehension, typically with compulsive behavior or panic attacks (but the […]
How to set yourself up for success?
Last week I wrote about the definitions of success (see here). In short, the definition of success depends on yourself, your goals, and your values. But how do you set up this definition for yourself? Especially, given the difficulties we face as an anxious creative (anticipating the worst, and self-doubt making us see our failures more than our successes)? I’m trying to find this answer for myself and at the same time by sharing what […]
What is success?
When you start a new project, ideally, you set a goal and break it into mini steps to get there. Reaching that goal usually equals success, failing to reach that goal usually means failure. But what is success? Is it really that all or nothing, pass or fail, or is there more to it? The definitions of success you find online are very short. The google definition is “The accomplishment of an aim or purpose […]
The Start of the Journey
I am anxious. I am doubtful of my capacities and my self-doubt is high. I am shy. I love creating and I want to make a living with writing and my other hobbies. Can I be successful despite my fear and self-doubts? This blog will be about the journey I undertake to see if I can answer this question and other topics that can help on the road to success. First things first, what to […]