{"appState":{"pageLoadApiCallsStatus":true},"articleState":{"article":{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-26T21:39:02+00:00","modifiedTime":"2016-03-26T21:39:02+00:00","timestamp":"2022-09-14T18:10:14+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Body, Mind, & Spirit","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34038"},"slug":"body-mind-spirit","categoryId":34038},{"name":"Emotional Health & Psychology","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34039"},"slug":"emotional-health-psychology","categoryId":34039},{"name":"Emotional Health","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34040"},"slug":"emotional-health","categoryId":34040},{"name":"Anxiety","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34042"},"slug":"anxiety","categoryId":34042}],"title":"Controlling Your Anxious Thoughts","strippedTitle":"controlling your anxious thoughts","slug":"controlling-your-anxious-thoughts","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"The words you use to think about yourself and the world can contribute to your anxiety. 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Controlling Your Anxious Thoughts

By: Charles H. Elliott and Laura L. Smith and

Updated: 03-26-2016

From The Book: Overcoming Anxiety For Dummies, 2nd Edition

Overcoming Anxiety For Dummies, 2nd Edition

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The words you use to think about yourself and the world can contribute to your anxiety. When you take some time to examine your anxious thoughts, you may find that your anxiety decreases. If your mind is filled with worries and concerns, try asking yourself these questions:

How will I look at this concern six months from now?
Have I had this worry before only to discover that what I worried about never actually occurred?
What evidence truly supports or refutes my worry?
If a friend of mine had this thought, what advice would I give?
If the worst happens, could I find a way to cope with it?

About This Article

This article is from the book:

Overcoming Anxiety For Dummies, 2nd Edition ,

About the book authors:

Charles H. Elliott, PhD, and Laura L. Smith, PhD, are clinical psychol-ogists who specialize in the treatment of anxiety and mood disorders. They are the authors of several For Dummies books, including Borderline Personality Disorder For Dummies and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder For Dummies.

This article can be found in the category:

Anxiety ,

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