How to Turn Anxiety into Excitement

"Do you know that your body processes anxiety in the same way that it processes excitement? The only difference is the label you give to your sensations.

Somatic Cues, Cognitive Labels

The quicker heartbeat, the shallower breathing, and that thing that jumps in our chests and then sinks in our stomachs — these are some of our body’s signs of either fear or excitement. Cortisol and adrenaline are being released.

What we "experience" depends upon the cognitive action we take over our sensations. We will "perceive" whatever we label our somatic responses. This is that world of difference between our sensations and our perceptions.

We have power over which emotions we privilege. We can develop habits to reframe certain of our emotions from negative to positive.

Reframing

Because we create and maintain our anxieties with our thoughts, we can use techniques from cognitive behavior therapy to help ourselves change. Here are five steps that we can use to reframe our anxiety:

1. Check in with our bodies to notice the signals we are experiencing and where they are located. (example: I feel sick in my stomach when I'm going to meet my new date.)

2. Identify the thoughts that are associated with these sensations. (example: I think about how horrible it feels to be risking myself by meeting someone new that I desire.)

3. Find the link between the thoughts and feelings. (example: When I think about how horrible this experience is, I feel the sensation that I think of as anxiety.)

4. Change the unhelpful thoughts from judgmental and threatening to exciting (example: I can think about this anticipation as excitement, and excitement can feel like a pleasant rush.)

5. Practice!”
   

Read the full article on Medium

✨Takeaway: Reframing is a tool often used in cognitive therapy. It helps to reframe the sensations you are feeling. Then turning them into more balanced thoughts instead of anxious ones.

✨Reflection: How can you reframe something you are anxious about at the moment.

Since I am feeling a bit anxious over my finals, I can reframe it to: “I am excited to complete my finals and see how much I’ve learned!

#Anxiety #MentalHealth #Reframing #Psychology #Cognitive