<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0"
	xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
	xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/"
	xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
	xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
	xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
	xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/"
	>

<channel>
	<title>Better Relationships &#187; anxiety</title>
	<atom:link href="https://www.better-relationships.com/tag/anxiety/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>https://www.better-relationships.com</link>
	<description>Marriage &#38; Couples Counseling, Psychotherapy, Premarital Counseling</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Tue, 21 Mar 2023 23:20:05 +0000</lastBuildDate>
	<language>en-US</language>
	<sy:updatePeriod>hourly</sy:updatePeriod>
	<sy:updateFrequency>1</sy:updateFrequency>
	<generator>http://wordpress.org/?v=4.1.18</generator>
	<item>
		<title>An Awareness of Time</title>
		<link>https://www.better-relationships.com/an-awareness-of-time/</link>
		<comments>https://www.better-relationships.com/an-awareness-of-time/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 23 Aug 2021 23:30:30 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jim Swaniger]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[COMMUNICATION]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CONFLICT]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[DEPRESSION]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MEN'S ISSUES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RELATIONSHIPS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[THERAPY]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WOMEN'S ISSUES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[anxiety]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[depression]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[time]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[time management]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[time of your life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[workaholic]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[worry]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.better-relationships.com/?p=4421</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Give Yourself the Time of Your Life When we get right down to it, we must draw one inescapable conclusion: time is our most important asset. And like most assets, there never seems to be enough of it. There are always so many things to do, so many pressures, so many things to keep track of. Our lives seem to whiz by, and where has our time gone? If time is our most important asset, why do we know so little about it?  Why do we stay so busy yet accomplish so little? Are our accomplishments all that important in the overall scheme of our lives? In a sense, when we simplify our lives and become aware of the rhythms of life that occur internally, we can cultivate our sense of time – and we gain self-knowledge that generally escapes us within the bustle of our daily lives.  Think what modern-day life encourages us to do. We need to keep up with the news, drive to work, perform meritoriously on the job, work overtime, maintain a spiritual life, have many friends and a few deeper relationships, be a good partner and perhaps a good parent, keep up with TV and movies and books and music and all the new ideas, travel, have several hobbies, dress in the right fashions, spent time on the Internet, keep good credit, be a good neighbor and participant in the community, do volunteer work, take classes, exercise, and so it goes. It is little wonder that many of us feel so pressured. In the end, what really matters is how well we have lived, not necessarily how much we have done. Like all things natural, our bodies have internal rhythms. There are times during the day, or even the month, or the year, when we do things well, quickly, and easily. We have spurts of energy when we are at our best. And there are other times when our bodies cry out for rest, for down time. To try to be at your most productive during this part of the cycle is futile, and it [&#8230;]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://www.better-relationships.com/an-awareness-of-time/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Growth During Crisis</title>
		<link>https://www.better-relationships.com/growth-during-crisis/</link>
		<comments>https://www.better-relationships.com/growth-during-crisis/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 28 Apr 2020 21:35:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jim Swaniger]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Anxiety]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[COMMUNICATION]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CONFLICT]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Crisis]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[DEPRESSION]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Divorce]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GRIEF & LOSS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MARRIAGE]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MEN'S ISSUES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PARENTING]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RELATIONSHIPS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WOMEN'S ISSUES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[anxiety]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[change. sudden change]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[children]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[dealing with crisis]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[elderly]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[fear]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[isolation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[relationships]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[suicide]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.better-relationships.com/?p=4375</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[For many of us, life as we know it is or soon will be gone, be it socially, professionally or personally. Being aware of and expressing our thoughts and feelings during this crisis is important to our mental and emotional health.  Sudden change often creates anxiety. To help reduce your stress, focus on what you can control; add structure to routines; develop near-term plans (i.e., days or one week out); avoid obsessively watching the news; and talk about your feelings with friends and family. One quick way to calm yourself and stay in the present moment is to do a simple grounding exercise. Pick up an object and concentrate on its weight, shape, color, texture and scent. You can also learn relaxation techniques like mindfulness and meditation through free online apps and eBooks specific to anxiety. Helpful websites include anxiety.org and www.adaa.org. Feelings of grief and loss are also normal. Grief may come out of nowhere, completely consuming you. But you can have some control over your response. For example, you can schedule a specific time for grieving. Then when it strikes, tell yourself “Not now, later.” Then at the specified time allow yourself to grieve. Free online apps and eBooks related to grieving and depression are available. For additional resources go to griefcounselor.org, nami.org and nihm.nih.gov. People who we thought were strong may need our help and emotional support. For example, trauma victims and those with mental illness already have compromised emotional and psychological resources. Additional stress may weaken their existing coping capacity and lead to more symptoms. The effects on children of long-term school closures, social isolation and daily interaction with parents who are now their teachers are unknown, meaning they may also need support. Under stress, it’s normal for kids to regress and act younger.  Once parents determine and address what’s wrong, normal behavior usually returns. Extra reassurance and encouragement are vital to a child’s emotional well-being. One way for parents to help their children feel valuable is to ask what they’re learning at home, from them, about relationships. Resources for helping children include kidsmentalhealth.org and acmh-mi.org. Loving relationships [&#8230;]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://www.better-relationships.com/growth-during-crisis/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Healthy Pleasure</title>
		<link>https://www.better-relationships.com/healthy-pleasure/</link>
		<comments>https://www.better-relationships.com/healthy-pleasure/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 25 Mar 2019 21:39:14 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jim Swaniger]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Anxiety]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Career]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[DEPRESSION]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MEN'S ISSUES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PARENTING]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RELATIONSHIPS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WOMEN'S ISSUES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[anxiety]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[depression]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[fun]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[having fun]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[healthy plesure]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pleasure]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[simple pelasures]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[work-life balance]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.better-relationships.com/?p=4289</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[  Engaging in Simple, Healthy Pleasures Can Restore Balance to our Hectic Lives The brain has several pleasure centers which are activated by chemicals which speed satisfying sensations from one nerve to the next. Children the world over, when they are left alone to do what they choose, engage in endless hours of play. They pursue fun. Childhood may be the time in life when our brains are trained to experience pleasure. If we accomplish this task well as children, we may have healthier lives as adults — as long as we don’t lose the ability to play that we acquired in childhood. Pleasure guides us to better health. When experiences are enjoyable, we want more of them. Our bodies tell us that sleep, reproduction, eating, companionship, and exercise – to name just a few of our common daily activities – are enjoyable. Our survival depends on engaging in these activities. And we define these basic actions as sources of fun or pleasure, and this may explain why we feel impelled to engage in them. A &#8216;Mindset&#8217; for Healthy Pleasure Think about what children do when they play. They lose themselves in the pleasure of the moment. We have all observed children at play. They glow with pleasure — they shout, smile, and move their bodies. Engrossed in their world of play, they are aware of neither the past nor the future. There is only the moment. As adults, we also have an ability to shift our awareness from rational and logical concerns to a level which is freer and centered on the moment. People who can shift appropriately between the “there and then” to the “here and now” are good at reality testing and adapting to the demands of the world. They can draw on both their thought processes and their ability to take effective action. What would happen if these behaviors were not pleasurable? Eating would disappear and sleep would vanish. We could no longer survive. Balancing Fun and Work Balance is the key to understanding the role of having fun vs. meeting real-world obligations in our lives. [&#8230;]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://www.better-relationships.com/healthy-pleasure/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Overcoming Shyness and Social Anxiety &#8211; 7 Practical Tips</title>
		<link>https://www.better-relationships.com/overcoming-shyness-and-social-anxiety-7-practical-tips/</link>
		<comments>https://www.better-relationships.com/overcoming-shyness-and-social-anxiety-7-practical-tips/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 26 Mar 2018 23:47:37 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jim Swaniger]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[COUNSELING]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MEN'S ISSUES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WOMEN'S ISSUES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[anxiety]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[communication]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[shyness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[social anxiety]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.better-relationships.com/?p=3985</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Living with social anxiety and shyness can be difficult in our modern world. Unless you live in a remote cabin, you may be interacting with people all the time. Plus, there are social situations that you may be obligated to attend (such as meetings or a work party) that require human interaction. However, all hope is not lost. There are ways that you can conquer your social anxiety and lessen your stress without becoming a hermit. Consider these 7 tips:  1. Remember to Breathe When stepping into a room with a lot of people, the first feeling you may experience is being overwhelmed. Your muscles tense, your breathing becoming more rapid, and your heart is beating faster. There is one mindfulness practice, though, that can be really helpful in that moment: breathing. Specifically, being conscious of when you breathe in and when you breathe out. The idea is that, by focusing on your breathing, this helps you to stay in control when your breathing is regulated. That way you don’t begin to slip into panic mode. 2. Use Logic to Tackle Negative Thinking Another issue that comes up for people with social anxiety is negative thinking. That is, believing that other people have preconceptions about them. Yet, in reality, these notions are false. For example, you may be saying to yourself, “Everyone knows I don’t belong here.” But this assumption only exists in your mind. When confronted with these thoughts, try to turn them around. Use logic to counter them. For instance, you could say to yourself, “That’s ridiculous, this is a party that I was invited to. Of course, I belong here.” Sometimes a dose of logic can be really helpful. 3. Acknowledge Your Anxiety When you begin to feel your anxiety creeping up, don’t ignore it. That will actually make it worse. Instead, what you need to do is acknowledge the feeling, yet not dwell on it. So, when an anxious feeling wells up, allow yourself to feel the emotion—like a rising wave. Once that’s done, let the feeling slip away—like an ebbing wave. Don’t hold on to [&#8230;]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://www.better-relationships.com/overcoming-shyness-and-social-anxiety-7-practical-tips/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
	</channel>
</rss>
