The immense pressures of modern living have increased anxiety levels for many. Human beings have always had to deal with a great deal of stress, from worrying about where the next meal would be, to finding shelter and avoiding predators, to today’s problems, like paying bills and managing time. Living with anxiety can be crippling, but there are ways to find relief.

You Don’t Have To Suffer Quietly, Learn To Manage Anxiety Instead 

You don’t have to suffer at all. There are many treatments options for anxiety, involving anything from self-help, meditation, therapy and even better eating habits which will affect how you feel.

The first step is to admit that you have a problem. Do you incessantly check reports? Do you double and triple or even quadruple check things? Don’t let anxiety run your life, you can quiet these fears and live free from the bonds of this stress.

We feel fear (and in turn, anxiety) because of the limbic ‘fight-or-flight’ system. Anxiety typically presents as a state of mind that consists of physiological, cognitive, and behavioral responses. Pathological anxiety, or a constant state of anxiety, can be triggered when a threat is perceived, often erroneously. Fortunately, treatment options are available, including pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy (Chand, 2017). 

If You Want To Start On Your Own, Consider Meditation

Anxiety is a medical condition. If you broke your ankle, would you seek treatment? If your appendix was about to burst, would you undergo surgery? Hopefully, the answer to both is YES. So why would you not try to alleviate your anxiety? 

If you are apprehensive about taking medications, yoga and meditation have been shown to decrease anxiety. Neuroscience is now looking for answers in psychotherapy, particularly in mindful-based stress reduction and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Various studies have shown how effective mindfulness-based interventions can be (Khambaty, 2017). 

Our anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strengths.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Your leadership skills require your peak performance, but is this possible if you are being weighed down with anxiety? Your mental readiness is every bit as important as your physical health. People have no problem spending an hour at the gym, but how long do you spend on your mind? 

Use The i4 Neuroleader Model To Achieve A Healthy Body And A Healthy Mind And Increase Performance

Just like there are different treatment options for anxiety, there are different types of leadership models. Perhaps it is time to consider a model that focuses on the whole you—not just one aspect of leadership but all aspects of your life. You can take a stand against anxiety and give your employees an environment that is full of creativity and innovation instead of adversity and fear. 

Citation:
Chand SP, Whitten RA. Anxiety. [Updated 2017 Nov 27]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2017 Jun-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470361/. Khambaty, M. Parikh, R. M. (2017). Cultural aspects of anxiety disorders in India. Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience, 19(2), 117–126

Originally posted on: 10 May 2018
Last updated on: 24 March 2024
Silvia Damiano

Silvia Damiano

Founder & CEO
About my Brain Institute

Scientist, educator, author, speaker, coach, award-winning leadership specialist, filmmaker and creator of the i4 Neuroleader Model & Methodology.

Silvia's scientific background and curiosity about the human brain led her to a decade long journey of research into optimal brain functioning and the application of neuroscience in leadership and daily life. Her past and current roles have uniquely prepared her for the current undertaking, that of leadership activist & change agent.

Silvia Damiano founded The About my Brain Institute in 2009, with the purpose of democratising leadership & neuroscience. She has a passionately held belief, that leaders in our 21st century global economy and their organisations must radically change long-held ideas of what constitutes effective leadership

In her ground-breaking books ‘Leadership is Upside Down’, ‘Brain-Friendly Leadership’ and the 2018 documentary ‘Make Me A Leader’, Silvia provides both compelling evidence and explores the importance of leadership in our personal and professional lives and what it takes to develop the human behind the leader.

Silvia has worked in different countries, across many industries, helping teams and organisations improve business performance. Silvia’s clients have described her as a passionate, dynamic, a highly experienced speaker and master facilitator on the topics of Emotional Intelligence, Cultural Change, Neuroleadership & Engagement.

Silvia is passionate about leaving a legacy of well-rounded leaders who can act and decide in a way that better serves humanity. Her clients include Microsoft, Australian Stock Exchange, NSW Government, VISA, Fuji Xerox and Manpower amongst many other global companies.

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