Positive Thinking: An Effective Anxiety Management Technique

Positive Thinking: An Effective Anxiety Management Technique by Guest Blogger Ryan Rivera

There are times when we feel a bit nervous, worried, or anxious. This is especially true when we are facing certain challenging events - or ”stressors” - like being called for a job interview, taking an examination, or performing in front of an audience. For most of us, we get anxious only when placed in such circumstances. But there are some who suffer anxiety in such a way that it inhibits their daily activities and makes regular functioning very hard. It becomes a problem especially when it interferes with sleep, and the reaction is on the extreme side. If you are one of those few, you should know that this disorder can be managed.

If you are suffering from an anxiety disorder, you may elicit some physical symptoms that could lead you to think that you are suffering from hypertension or cardiovascular diseases, thus increasing your anxiousness. Treatment is often tricky, and a lot of research is often done in helping to find ways to manage the disorder. Medications have been developed to prevent and lessen the secretions of the chemicals known to be responsible for feelings and behavior that affect mood and emotions. But sometimes, such disorders can be managed even without medication. Recent developments have looked towards the power of positive thinking as an effective technique in managing mood and emotions.

Positive thinking simply means being generally happy and having a positive outlook in life. Positive thinking often means doing away with all negativity and focusing on the good and positive things of daily life. So what makes positivity a great way of curbing anxiousness? Here are a few note-worthy points.

Shift in Focus
Too often, people who suffer from this debilitating emotional disorder are wrought with feelings of worry and fear. And these feelings are often brought about when one is pessimistic or has a negative outlook in life. When being in this state, the focus is more on the “bad” thought or the “awful” things that could happen – “What if I don’t get the job?” “What if I forget the things that I studied?” “What if I don’t reach the high notes?” With positive thinking, it shifts the focus to the affirmative side of the thought process. The focus is more on the good side, the good outcomes, or even the good expectations.

Builds up Confidence
More often than not, people who suffer from mood and emotional disorders can trace it back to confidence issues. Sufferers of these disorders often have very low self-esteem and confidence level. They are often shy and aren’t very assertive. This is due to the “war” that is happening in their minds, the war of the negative “what ifs”. But when you start to focus on the positive things, you will be able to build up your confidence and self-esteem. You can start, for example, by believing in yourself and your abilities. If you believed that you studied enough, then the dreaded exam will be a walk in the park. Your confidence will also show when you go out on that job interview, or when you go onstage to perform, and since you are not focusing on the negative vibes, your audience or interviewer’s focus will also be towards the positive things.

Stop Overanalyzing
Too often, when you think too much about something, a simple thing turns into something complicated. Sure, it’s good to think before you act, or to rationalize before deciding, but attacking something in your mind in all angles and weighing and re-weighing things will lead to worry, fear, and anxiousness. Something as simple as what to wear can be blown out of proportion into a body image issue. The premise of positive thinking is living life, not thinking about it. So when you use positivity as a way of managing your mood, you are actually trying to think less and live more.

Act on It
So you’ve decided to manage your anxiety and depression by starting to think positively. Positivity is pretty much like being happy: you have to decide on it and act on it. And like every decision, there has to be an action. Once you’ve made up your mind to control your emotions and your thoughts, to shift your focus to the positive side, and to believe in yourself, you need to put that into work. You need to act the part, so to speak. Despite what you may be feeling, you should keep it a point to act on your positive attitude.

Remember, the decision to manage this condition relies on the person suffering it. There is only one person who can control your mind and that is you. Positive thinking may seem easy to do, but it often needs a lot of effort and hard work on your part if you want it to work for you. And it will be a struggle. But the good thing about this treatment is, unlike medicines, there are no side-effects.


Ryan Rivera knows first-hand the effect of positive thinking on managing anxiety. As a former anxiety patient, he used and is still using this technique to overcome extreme anxiousness. Learn more of this technique at www.calmclinic.com.