Beneath the Anxiety - Treasure!

 

by Richard C. Raynard, Ph.D.
Licensed Clinical Psychologist

Anxiety and fear can make you avoid a bad situation, and you also can learn how to face up to it. But what then? Do you know what to do with your new-found freedom?

I have come to see that it makes a very small satisfaction in overcoming an anxiety "disorder" if you don't know what to do with your new freedom. I have learned to ask my clients what the would love to do with their life, their dream job, their ideal day, the experiences they wish to have, what they need most - all ways of asking for the true love in their life.

When the love of your life is frustrated, minimized, or slighted, strong emotions are generated, such as anger, guilt, disgust, depression, and more. This sense of something missing from your life can lead to a kind of low level depression.

Free at last

Burns (2013) found that after a client got mostly over her anxiety at work, she still had nausea and the urge to vomit when she walked by the desk of her boss. I believe that her nausea was not remaining anxiety but disgust with her work. Disgust, the emotion driving guilt.  She long desired to be a dress designer, and when she left to pursue that line of work, all her nausea disappeared.

Yes, if fear and anxiety have oppressed you for a long time, it may be hard to renew hope and faith in what you love.  Still, clearing away the worries and fears helps you find the hidden treasure.

About Dr. Raynard
Dr. Richard Raynard is a licensed clinical psychologist with 35 years experience resolving a broad range of emotional problems. As a cognitive-behavioral therapist who has specialized in anxiety and phobic disorders since 1980, he has spent the last 35 years fulfilling his life-long desire to explore and define the true purpose of emotions and how people can easily use emotions to create meaning and satisfaction in their lives. Dr. Raynard's series of books on emotions can be found on Amazon.com. His other books include Don't Panic, and Anxiety & Panic Medications.