The Appendix Monologues

Anxiety is a lot like your appendix. It's not really good for anything, but it can cause a lot of trouble. If only chronic anxiety were as easy to remove as going under the knife!

Most of the time, we find our anxiety nothing more than a waste of time. Problems have a way of working themselves out. Many of my clients already know what it is they want to do to solve a problem; they just need a little push in that direction. Often times, when anxiety is very great, we seem to draw the conclusion that we simply can not cope. However, no matter how anxious we become, the anxiety that fosters in us will never be strong enough to stop the clock. The show does go on, whether you are ready or not.

When you find yourself in a position of feeling like you just can't "go on", just remind yourself that at that very moment you are, well, "going on". Right now, at this very moment, as you read this blog, your problems, worries, and fears are managing themselves. They are going on without you, and you are coping.

This isn't to say, however, that problems solve themselves. Rewriting the story of a difficult past, or developing new patterns of behavior for the future isn't easy. Just like anything else that's worth having, you have to work a bit to get it. However, it is important to understand that Nike got it wrong when they wrote the slogan, "Just do it". As a matter of fact, when anxiety it at it's worst, you don't have "to do" anything. Instead, "just be". Wait. Rest. Slow down. Give yourself permission to take a vacation from your problems, even if it is just a few short hours.

If you still have that useless appendix, well, it's probably not going anywhere. But you can do something about your anxiety. You can start by seeing your therapist. Life is way too short to allow anxious feelings to keep you from what the world has to offer.... even if exploring does leave an appendix scar or two.

Find out more about Mike at www.reachfamilytherapy.com Like my blog? Please comment and let me know... or better yet, follow me using the link at the right. It much more fun to blog when I know I have people who read it! Cheers!