If you are reading this section of the anxiety2calm.com programme then you are obviously trying to figure out what caused you to have an anxiety problem. I am assuming that you have read the earlier pages of the "causes" section and know that trying to find the cause of anxiety is considered controversial by modern psychologists. That said, modern psychologists wisdom does not help everyone, so they are not always right!

These are just a couple of exercises that might help to identify the cause of your anxiety. They are just my ideas and have not been designed by psychologists or healthcare professionals. They appear to have helped me. Please read the disclaimer and then read on.

1) Write 100 words on what you think caused your anxiety (Gut instincts are often useful!)

 

2) List the memories from your childhood that seem unpleasant or painful. See if you can list 50. (If this seems too painful then stop, and seek help from a trained counsellor or at least a good friend before you think about continuing).

 

3) Write a paragraph about the first few times you felt anxiety or panic. What was happening? What was going through your head just before? What was going on in your life?

 

4) Write a paragraph describing your relationship with your caregivers. Did anyone fail to give you the care you needed or deserved?

 

5) Release emotion if you can. Can you release anger, guilt or sadness associated with anything that came up? Can you write someone a letter (and DON'T SEND IT) telling them how angry or sad you are about what the caused to happen? Can punch a pillow, rip up an old newspaper, work out at the gym, do anything to release emotion? Just focus your anger on whatever physical feelings you have - anxiety is often repressed anger, it has been said!

 

6) If these do nothing for you and you are still convinced that you have the root of the anxiety problem tucked away somewhere, causing havoc in your life, then consider Hypnoanalysis. A good hypnoanalyst maybe able to go back deeper into your subconscious memories to find trapped emotion and feelings of guilt, hurt and shame. Some would argue that through hypnosis is the only way to find and deal with the root cause. Although proper research is sparse, it may be one of the better treatments for Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

 

7) Rare good news! Some people do get a complete resolution and removal of symptoms through finding and dealing with the root cause!