Some fathers deal with stress and anxiety on a regular basis, especially with families and jobs to tend to. At times, many men may not know what to do. Here is a brief list of techniques that fathers can use to help manage their most persistent stresses and every day anxieties.
1. When facing a current or upcoming task that overwhelms you with a lot of anxiety, the first thing you can do is to divide the task into a series of smaller steps. Completing these smaller tasks one at a time will make the stress more manageable and increases your chances of success.
2. Sometimes we can get stressed out when everything happens all at once. When this happens, take a deep breath and try to find something to do for a few minutes to get your mind off of the problem. Get some fresh air, listen to some music, or do an activity that will give you a fresh perspective on things.
3. Try visualizing a red stop sign in your mind when you encounter a fear provoking thought. When the negative thought comes, the red stop sign serves as a reminder to stop focusing on that thought and to think of something else. You can then try to think of something positive to replace the negative thought.
4. Another technique that is very helpful is to have a small notebook of positive statements that make you feel good. Whenever you come across an affirmation that makes you feel good, write it down in a small notebook that you can carry around with you in your pocket. When you feel depressed or frustrated, open up your small notebook and read those statements. This will help to manage your negative thinking.
5. Some of us need to learn to take it one day at a time. Instead of worrying about how you will get through the rest of the week, try to focus on today. Each day can provide us with different opportunities to learn new things and that includes learning how to deal with your problems. You never know when the answers you are looking for will come to your doorstep. We may be ninety-nine percent correct in predicting the future, but all it takes is for that one percent to make a world of difference.
6. Men can and should take advantage of the help that is available around them. If possible, talk to a professional who can help you manage your depression and anxieties. They will be able to provide you with additional advice and insights on how to deal with your current problem. By talking to a professional, you will be helping yourself in the long run because you will become better able to deal with your problems in the future. Remember that it never hurts to ask for help.
It is important to realize that dealing with stresses and anxieties is not easy. Patience, persistence, education, and commitment to trying to solve the problem will go a long way in fixing the problems of stress and anxiety.
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Stanley Popovich is the author of A Layman’s Guide to Managing Fear Using Psychology, Christianity, and Non Resistant Methods – an easy to read book that presents a general overview of techniques that are effective in managing persistent fears and anxieties. For additional information go to: http://www.managingfear.com.