Managing Your Persistent Fears, Anxieties, and Stresses By Stanley Popovich Everybody deals with anxiety and depression; however, some people have a difficult time in managing them. As a result, here is a brief list of techniques that a person can use to help manage their most persistent fears and everyday anxieties. When facing a current or upcoming task that overwhelms you with a lot of anxiety, the first thing you can do is to divide the task into a series of smaller steps. Completing these smaller tasks one at a time will make the stress more manageable and increases your chances of success. Sometimes we get stressed out when everything happens all at once. When this happens, take a deep breath and try to find something to do for a few minutes to get your mind off of the problem. Get some fresh air, listen to some music, or do an activity that will give you a fresh perspective on things. Visualize a red stop sign when you encounter a fear-provoking thought. When the negative thought comes, a thinking of a red stop sign will serve as a reminder to stop focusing on that thought and to think of something else. Then try to think of something positive to replace the negative thought. Another technique that is very helpful is to have a small notebook of positive statements that make you feel good. Whenever you come across an affirmation that makes you feel good, write it down in your notebook and carry it around with you in your pocket. Whenever you feel depressed or frustrated, open your notebook and read those statements. This will help to manage your negative thinking. Learn to take it one day at a time. Instead of worrying about how you will get through the rest of the week, try to focus on today. Each day can provide us with different opportunities to learn new things, and that includes learning how to deal with your problems. You never know when the answers you are looking for will come to your doorstep. We may be ninety-nine percent correct in predicting the future, but all it takes is for that one percent to make a world of difference. Take advantage of the help that is available around you. If possible, talk to a professional who can help you manage your depression and anxieties. They will be able to provide you with additional advice and insights on how to deal with your current problem. By talking to a professional, you will be helping yourself in the long run because you will become better able to deal with your problems in the future. Remember that it never hurts to ask for help. Dealing with our persistent fears is not easy. Remember that all you can do is to do your best each day, hope for the best, and take things in stride. Patience, persistence, education, and being committed in trying to solve your problems will go a long way toward fixing your problems. Stan Popovich is the author of A Layman's Guide to Managing Fear Using Psychology, Christianity and Non-Resistant Methods—an easy to read book that presents a general overview of techniques that are effective in managing persistent fears and anxieties. For additional information go to ManagingFear.com.