National Institute of Anxiety & Stress

Page 11: Seven Keys to Overcoming Anxiety

Table of Contents

1) Introduction
2) Seven Keys to Overcoming Anxiety
3) Educate Yourself
4) Address Roadblocks
5) Set Gradual, Progressive Goals
6) Train Your Body and Mind to Respond to Stress Differently
7) Sample Strategies: Learning Deep Breathing
8) Sample Strategies: How to Overcome Your Fear of Losing Control
9) Make Wellness a Way of Life
10) Personalize Your Solution
11) Celebrate Your Successes
12) Conclusion

Celebrate Your Successes

The seventh key to overcoming anxiety is to celebrate your successes. Small successes form the foundation of recovery. Celebrate them!

Think of your 'inner power' as a muscle just like any other muscle. The more you use it, the more toned it becomes and the more you are able to accomplish. Every time you practice a healthy life strategy, you actually increase your ability to conquer your anxiety. What you couldnÌt do yesterday, you can do today. With practice, your new skills will become automatic. The more you practice healthy life strategies, the more you are able to prevent false alarms that set off your fight or flight response and result in anxiety.

With continued practice and a commitment to changing for the better, you will continue to become more skilled in conquering your anxiety and creating the life you want. Remember, any positive change is a reason to celebrate!

Next page: Conclusion