Resources  email page print page Basic Information Introduction to Anxiety DisordersOrganizations for Anxiety DisordersAnxiety Disorders Symptoms - AgoraphobiaSymptoms - Generalized Anxiety DisorderAnxiety Disorders Symptoms - Panic AttackAnxiety Disorders Symptoms - Panic DisorderAnxiety Disorders Symptoms - Social PhobiaAnxiety Disorders Symptoms - Specific PhobiaSymptoms of Anxiety DisordersAnxiety Disorders Treatment - Generalized Anxiety DisorderAnxiety Disorders Treatment - Panic DisorderAnxiety Disorders Treatment - Social PhobiaAnxiety Disorders Treatment - Specific PhobiaTreatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder and TraumaTreatment of Panic-Related Anxiety DisordersAnxiety Disorders Treatment - Phobias More Information Anxiety as a Defense Against Depression: Part 6Anxiety as a Defense Against Depression: Part 7Anxiety Disorders in Children and AdolescentsCouples Therapy for Robert and Julia (Romeo and Juliet)Do You Have a Shy Bladder? UpdatedFacts About Anxiety DisordersFacts about Generalized Anxiety DisorderFacts about Panic DisorderFacts about Social PhobiaHoardingPanic Disorder - When Fear Holds SwayParent's Anxiety Disorders And Children's AdjustmentPTSD treatment readiness and the looming Iraq war PTSD bubbleSix Simple Habits That Defeat AnxietySmall Penis Syndrome: Characteristics and Self-Help Treatment SuggestionsWhy People Might Use Anxiety to Avoid Depression: Part 3Why People Might Use Anxiety to Avoid Depression: Part 4Why People Might Use Anxiety to Avoid Depression: Part 5Wise Counsel Interview Transcript: An Interview with David Barlow, Ph.D. on the Nature and Treatment of Anxiety and Panic DisordersWise Counsel Interview Transcript: An Interview with Dr. Michelle Craske on Anxiety Disorders Research and TreatmentWise Counsel Interview Transcript: An Interview with Richard Heimberg, Ph.D. on Anxiety Research and TreatmentWise Counsel Interview Transcript: An Interview with Steven Phillipson, Ph.D. on the Nature and Treatment of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Latest News Depression, Anxiety May Raise Odds of ObesityTroubled Minds Can Mean Wider WaistlinesSoothe Back-to-School Anxiety, Teach Kids to RelaxClassification of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder DebatableHealth Tip: Signs That You May Have Obsessive-Compulsive DisorderInsomnia and Anxiety May Be Genetically LinkedStudy Challenges Link Between Panic Attacks, PTSDBehavioral Therapy Improves Anxiety Symptoms in ElderlyGirls' Anti-Social Behavior Predictive of Later DepressionAntidepressant Eases Anxiety in Older AdultsSerotonin Transporter Gene Tied to Social AnxietyPanic Disorder Linked to Higher Risk of Heart DiseaseAnxiety News Feeds Questions and Answers I'm Afraid I'm Going CrazyPost Brain Surgery Mental ProblemsWould Medication Help? obsessive strange thoughts about life and existentialismAm I Crazy?Is it Anxiety? Is it Normal to Be Like That?Depressed 19 year old college studentDepression helps to contribute to my unemployment! - Paula Relationship Anxiety Disconnected Blog Entries Taking a Mindful Path Through ShynessYou vs. Procrastination: 1 (Mindful) Secret to Winning the BattleFreedom from Your Anxious MindAre You Wired to Worry? 3 Common Mistakes People Make When Working with InsomniaThere is No Such Thing as ADDWhat You Need to Know to Help Heal Insomnia Overcoming School Anxiety: An Interview with Diane Peters MayerHoardingAn Interview with Gail Steketee, PhD, on Hoarding and OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder)In a Falling Economy, Trust Your Gut Or Reason? Avoidant Personality Disorder and Social PhobiaDo You Have a Shy Bladder? UpdatedWhat Every Parent Should Know About School Anxiety5 Steps to Emotional Freedom: Placebo or Panacea?Couples Therapy for Robert and Julia (Romeo and Juliet)Anxiety as a Defense Against Depression: Part 7Can Anxiety Be a Good Thing? Anxiety as a Defense Against Depression: Part 6Why People Might Use Anxiety to Avoid Depression: Part 5Why People Might Use Anxiety to Avoid Depression: Part 4Why People Might Use Anxiety to Avoid Depression: Part 3Why People Might Use Anxiety to Avoid Depression: Part 2Why People Might Use Anxiety to Avoid Depression: What We Can Learn From a Wartime ExperienceI Blush, Therefore I...Feeling Stuck with Anxiety or Depression? Try this Today! Catastrophizing Controlling Your Life: 3 Steps to Break FreeNew A&E Series Explores Anxiety DisordersRejection, Why Does It Hurt So Much?An Interview with Steven Phillipson, Ph.D. on the Nature and Treatment of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)Anxiety, Stress and Depresion in Light of the RecessionTherapy for Borderline Personality Disorder – building a life instead of digging up the past?Young Yet Sad: The Social PhobicHow trying to avoid your fear, anxiety, and panic keeps it knocking on your doorCatastrophizing Illness: Mind and Body RevisitedAn Interview with Victoria Lemle Beckner, Ph.D. on Treatments for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)Small Penis Syndrome: Characteristics and Self-Help Treatment SuggestionsSocial Phobia and Self Concept and the BrainAn Interview with Frank Ochberg, MD on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)TIME OUT! 2 Things you can practice today to stave off anxiety and depression in this hectic time. Shy Bladder Syndrome (Paruresis): Getting HelpAn Interview with Edna Foa, Ph.D. on the Nature and Treatment of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)Going to the Dentist: Fears and PhobiasStuff, Why Is It So Difficult to Part With?An Interview with Michelle Craske, Ph.D. on Anxiety Disorders Research and TreatmentBlenophobia, The Fear of NeedlesDo You Have a Shy Bladder?Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Plagued by DoubtPost Traumatic Stress Disorder and Iraqi VeteransPsychotherapy and Murder in New York: Should We All Stay Home?An Interview with David H. Barlow Ph.D. on the Nature and Treatment of Anxiety and Panic DisordersWorried SickAn Interview with Richard Heimberg, Ph.D. on Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Social Anxiety Disorder Research and TreatmentTreating PTSD, Part TwoNational Stress Øut WeekHalloween...Fear With A PurposePTSD treatment readiness and the looming Iraq war PTSD bubbleParent's Anxiety Disorders And Children's AdjustmentAn Anxiety Disorder: Small Penis SyndromeCollege and Mental Health Problems, They Go TogetherSeparation Anxiety DisorderRecognizing emotion gets harder or easier depending on your moodThe Story of A Psychiatric Service Dog TeamEarly verbal abuse results in more adult depressionOn Being A PerfectionistChronic cortisol exposure causes mood disordersTreating PTSD with Beta-BlockersDavid Beckham has OCDCortisol May Be an Anxiety TreatmentGenetic contribution to OCD may have been identified Videos Top 10 Phobias VideoAll About Fears and Phobias VideoSpotting the Signs of Stress VideoAnxiety Overview VideoFighting Fears and Phobias VideoMedication for Fears and Phobias VideoSocial Anxiety Disorder VideoAgoraphobia VideoCognitive Behavioral Treatments for Phobias VideoAlternative Treatments for Phobias VideoAnxiety and OCD VideoChildhood Phobias and Anxieties VideoGenerlized Anxiety Disorder VideoPanic Disorder VideoPost-Traumatic Stress Disorder VideoIf I Had - A Child With Sudden Mood or Anxiety Symptoms Video Overcoming AnxietyTransient vs. Persistent Anxiety in ChildrenTreatments for Pediatric AnxietyIdentifying Childhood AnxietyOvercoming Fear of HeightsGeneralized Anxiety DisorderToo Scared: Social Anxiety DisorderObsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) VideoPanic Disorders VideoPhobias Video Links [3] Articles[3] Associations[5] Community[2] Government[25] Information[2] Journals[2] Research[2] Self-Help[2] Tutorials[26] Videos[2] Personal Experiences[7] Blogs[2] Podcasts Book Reviews A Brief History of AnxietyAnxietyAnxiety, Phobias, and PanicBeen There, Done That? 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	Elisha Goldstein, Ph.D. A blog about mindfulness, stress-reduction, psychotherapy and mental health.
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Part of the key to mental health that many people have been saying for quite some time is this move into wholeness and acceptance. Think about it, if we were able to drop our anxieties over our imperfections and just accept them, what would be left?

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Some people answer this by saying, "I spend all my time being anxious, so I'd probably worry about what to do?" Ofcourse this thought would arise from someone's mind that is habitually conditioned to view life through this anxious lens. But if we were able to drop the lens entirely, have you ever thought about what is behind it?

Imagine seeing it this way. That lens is one of two things. It is either a biological wiring handed down by your family or a part of yourself that many years ago had to be vigilant in some way to avoid some sort of upcoming stress or pain.

If it is there because it helped us out while we were kids, then we can acknowledge that its intentions are good, but that this strategy is not working anymore and is causing more pain. This strategy implies a greater sense of kindness and compassion for ourselves rather than "hating" this anxious lens which only pours that energy into us and fuels more anxiety.

With the advent of neuroscientists telling us that the brain has been found to have plasticity, or we have the ability to rewire our brain, we can begin to notice this lens for what it is and choose to redirect our attention to seeing other perspectives.

Simple, but not easy! It may just be a life practice, but a worthwhile one.

Begin to try it out today.

As always, please share your thoughts, stories, and questions below. Your interactions provide a living wisdom for us all to benefit from.

Elisha Goldstein, Ph.D. is a Clinical Psychologist and conducts a private practice in West Los Angeles. He is co-author of A Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Workbook (New Harbinger, February 2010).

Check out Dr. Goldstein's acclaimed CD's on Mindful Solutions for Stress, Anxiety, and Depression, Mindful Solutions for Addiction and RelapsePrevention, and Mindful Solutions for Success and Stress Reduction at Work. -- "They are so relevant, I have marked them as one of my favorites on a handout I give to all new clients" ~ Psychiatrist.

If you're wanting an interactive program to find relief from anxiety and stress, check out Dr. Goldstein's progressive online behavioral change program in Aliveworld.

If you're wanting to integrate more mindfulness into your daily life, sign up for his Mindful Living Twitter Feed. Dr. Goldstein is also available for private psychotherapy.

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Thank you!

Response - Chris - Oct 28th 2009

I agree strongly with the fact that more people need to "get a life" and put down the Blackberry/shut off the soap operas, etc, but I know from personal experience that exercise is not necessarily a cure-all. I am an experienced runner who also struggles with anxiety and depression, and although running does provide some mood elevation, the anxiety (ironically) sometimes fuels my motivation. But it never makes it go away. I start thinking about everything that distresses me, become anxious, and then turn to my daily running routine to cope. I suppose it all depends on the person's level of anxiety and the causes for it.

Exercise - Cathy - Oct 22nd 2009

A lot of anxiety would disappear if people got out and got some exercise and let go of some of the electronic devices.  They have no life and identify so much with TV characters and such and begin to think that those people are "real" and those situations are "real" and they cannot possibly duplicate such in their own lives.  If you have a real life, anxiety would disappear - it fills in for the emptiness.