Is Anxiety Self Inflicted?

The subject of anxiety is one that is as complex as individuals themselves, and one that often demands professional help and advice. However, there is undoubtedly a link between many cases of anxiety and stress, and in the modern world, self inflicted stress is commonplace. Many people undoubtedly do put unnecessary pressures on themselves, get their own lives out of perspective, and see things as stressful that should not be for somebody who is confident in themselves.

Some causes of anxiety are controllable. Genetic causes and environmental upbringing are things that cannot be changed, only adjusted to as best as possible. However, some causes of anxiety are controllable by an individual, and to any extent they are not controlled, the anxiety is self inflicted. That is not to say you should criticise yourself, rather to acknowledge the reality that there are some aspects of anxiety you can influence, and can therefore assert yourself over them and control them.

Anxiety can bring with it a feeling of uselessness, that there is nothing much you can do to improve things for yourself. Once you are aware that you can do something about it yourself, then there is a good chance you will. So the awareness itself is a key step to reducing your own anxiety.

What type of causes of anxiety can you look out for and cope with yourself? Much of today's anxiety is caused by lifestyle factors and stress overload. This is under your control much more than you think. Much too also comes from negative thought processes, so training yourself in positive thinking and making daily practical use of it can help get your started in reducing your worries and thus anxiousness.

By recognizing there are stress factors in your life that you have some control over (such as finances, envy of neighbors and their new car, and that dreadful job you should have left years ago), then you can focus on doing something about them. Once recognized, picking them off one at a time will encourage you to do more in those areas of your life that may cause or add to your anxiousness.