| There is an old Buddhist saying that goes, "While you | | | | must not become dependent on these external |
| cannot change your past, you can ruin your present by | | | | factors because, the cause of the anxiety and |
| being anxious about the future". Obviously, this tenet | | | | inevitably the cure, will be coming from the mind. |
| stems from the fact that overcoming anxiety and fear | | | | Understanding this will be vital in overcoming anxiety |
| is something that Buddhist masters continue to teach | | | | disorders. |
| their students through out the ages. | | | | The human mind is so complex that it can create its |
| It is said that enlightenment, or true and pure peace of | | | | own reality. Of course, as humans, we also have |
| mind, cannot be achieved by individuals while they are | | | | common realities on which we base absolute reality |
| privy to fear of change that the future will inevitably | | | | on. However, there are relative realities that are born |
| bring. In this sense then, one can say that learning and | | | | out of different beliefs and principles that taint our |
| embodying the Buddhist principles is like overcoming | | | | perception, which poses a challenge in the process of |
| anxiety disorders. | | | | overcoming anxiety disorders. |
| An anxiety disorder is an abnormal condition of fear | | | | This means that if ten people decided to eat an apple, |
| and nervousness that in turn inhibits the proper flow of | | | | they will all have different experiences of the apple |
| everyday functions. Some anxiety disorders are acute | | | | and at the same time share common realities about |
| and some severe, but at whatever level of severity | | | | the apple like color and such. This results in different |
| these afflictions have, one's quality of life will be | | | | realities of eating an apple, dependent who are |
| challenged. This makes overcoming anxiety disorders | | | | experiencing it and their biases in perception. |
| an important endeavor to embark on. | | | | Normally, everyone has a bias in perception that has |
| For starters, one will need to be properly diagnosed to | | | | been born out of societal teachings, personal |
| be able to be on the path towards overcoming anxiety | | | | experience and upbringing. In the case of an anxiety |
| disorders. There are different types of anxiety | | | | disorder, the individual's perception is biased towards |
| disorders that have different symptoms and | | | | succumbing to the experience of fear and anxiety so |
| manifestations. Whatever the type of disorder | | | | much so that he or she can suffer from a reduced |
| however, at the root of it is an irrational fear that has | | | | quality of life. |
| been formed by previous harmful cognitive processes | | | | Overcoming anxiety disorders will help individuals get |
| that need to be addressed. Getting to the root of the | | | | their life back. They no longer need be controlled by |
| matter and healing from that point on is the only true | | | | excessive fear that will inhibit their ability to participate |
| way of overcoming anxiety disorders. | | | | everyday life. Understanding that most fears are |
| There are certain anti-depressants and other types of | | | | irrational will help in overcoming anxiety disorders. |
| prescription drugs that may mislead individuals into | | | | Looking deeper into one's self and psyche to see that |
| thinking that these pills will help them in overcoming | | | | certain emotions are born out of fear and |
| anxiety disorders. While sometimes, therapists will | | | | understanding where these fears stem from will all |
| prescribe these medications to help compliment | | | | help in overcoming anxiety disorders. |
| cognitive therapy, it is important to understand that one | | | | |