Don't Worry
24 Jan 07

Anxiety comes in many forms from mild apprehension through to debilitating fear.  Whilst a degree of anxiety can actually be a helpful thing, if it is allowed to run rampant it can prevent us living life to the full.

In western democracies, anxiety has become one of the critical issues of our time. Our lives have become easier, longer and healthier. The opportunities open to us have never been greater or more diverse. And yet, at the same time, more of us describe ourselves as depressed, stressed or in some way more disconnected than ever before.

Don’t Worry by Douglas Miller gives us a better understanding of the classic causes of anxiety and delivers strategies for overcoming anxiety and recalibrating our lives to be happy and fulfilled.

The Seven Anxieties of Life:

Miller describes the seven anxieties as:

Knowing yourself: Who am I?
We often doubt our psychological strengths and capabilities. This misalignment can leave us bereft of personal identity and believing that we cannot deal with realities.

The meaning of life: What am I here for?
Many of us need to feel a purpose in our life and become anxious if we do not find it.

Consuming: Why do I need all this stuff?
We increasingly look to material “stuff” to give us a quick boost, but inevitably it is emotionally void and gets us into debt, which is no good for anxiety levels.

Relationships: How can they be stronger?
A good relationship can ward off most of the slings and arrows of life.  A bad one can make things much worse.

Work: Why has it become my life?
We spend most of our waking lives at work and the physical and psychological effects can be dramatic.

Time: Where did it go?
We have allowed ourselves to run at somebody else’s pace, at a speed we do not feel comfortable with and now we wander what happened to our lives.

The future: What does it hold?
We are all on a quest for happiness in our lives, although we are often confused or misguided about what it is that will bring us that happiness.

The Seven C’s to Conquer Anxieties

Miller also identifies the seven strengths which will help anyone conquer anxiety.  They are:

Choice
The one true freedom is that we get to choose the attitude we apply to situations.

Control
The challenge, when combating anxiety, is to assess what you can control and act accordingly.

Capability
You need to know you are living a life that is a reflection of the best bits of ‘you’.

Collaboration
A “stiff upper lip”, contrary to traditional belief, is pretty useless. Seeking help from others, friends or professionals, is invaluable in helping beat anxiety. 

Confidence
Recognize the achievements in your life so far, and stop beating yourself up over what didn’t work.

Community
Getting involved with the community steers you away from too much self-reflection and re-engages you with life, nature, friends, activities and hobbies – things that ‘oxygenate’ our lives.

Contribution
We are all valuable and can use our abilities to contribute to the world around us.  This generates a sense of fulfilment and removes those superfluous anxieties that would otherwise fill the void.

	Don't Worry:
	Author	Douglas Miller
	Pub Date	19 Dec 2006
	Price	£9.99
	Publisher	Prentice Hall Life
	ISBN10	0273712691
	ISBN13	9780273712695
		Click here for further information or to purchase Don't Worry:.

For further information please contact:
Elie Ball, PR Manager
t: 07803 392 710
e: elie.ball@pearson.com

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