ARTICLES

MANAGING YOUR PERSISTENT FEARS AND ANXIETIES

By: Stanley Popovich

Everybody deals with anxiety and depression, however some people have a hard time in managing it. As a result, here is a brief list of techniques that a person can use to help manage their most persistent fears and every day anxieties.

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.

Sometimes we get stressed out when everything happens all at once. When this happens, a person should take a deep breath and try to find something to do for a few minutes to get their mind off of the problem.  A person could get some fresh air, listen to some music, or do an activity that will give them a fresh perspective on things.

A person should visualize a red stop sign in their mind when they encounter a fear provoking thought. When the negative thought comes, a person should think of a red stop sign that serves as a reminder to stop focusing on that thought and to think of something else. A person can then try to think of something positive to replace the negative thought.

Another technique that is very helpful is to have a small notebook of positive statements that makes 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.  Whenever you feel depressed or frustrated, open up your small notebook and read those statements.   This will help to manage your negative thinking.

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.

Take advantage of the help that is available around you. 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, a person will be helping themselves in the long run because they will become better able to deal with their problems in the future.  Remember that it never hurts to ask for help.

Dealing with our persistent fears is not easy.  Remember that all you can do is to do your best each day, hope for the best, and take things in stride. Patience, persistence, education, and being committed in trying to solve your problem will go along way in fixing your problems.

BIOGRAPHY:

Stan 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: Managing Fear.

Judy Grim
Brain Tumor Survivor

EARLY DETECTION FOR BRAIN TUMORS

The Brain Tumor Foundation newsletter featured an article about "The Road to Early Detection Campaign."
Here is the link to an excellent video on their website:. What's especially chilling is..."Every 20 minutes, someone dies of a brain tumor and it is estimated that one million people in the U.S. are UNKNOWINGLY walking around with one."

My brain tumor journey did not include early detection, but despite that I am a survivor. My reaction to watching this video was, " All I can say is WOW with tears in my eyes, a lump in my throat & feeling a bit angry. You see, this video reminded me of the signals my body had been sending off & on for about 14 years that I & my doctors. passed off as no real concern.

Throughout those 14 years I really wasn't out of commission, just slowing down. In 1993, I started losing my balance, which was blamed on my cerebral palsy. I gradually started using canes & a walker to help me walk. In 2003, I learned that the light flashes in my eye were called ocular migraines, but since they didn't last too long & only happened occasionally, there was nothing to be concerned about according to my optometrist. I don't think I even told my primary doctor about them. In 2005, I started having intermittent tingling down my right arm to my thumb. Then I had to stop swimming laps because after a couple I would get a sharp but quick headache. Again, I didn't think too much about it.

Then finally in May 2007, I complained enough about my right arm discomfort to my orthopedic doctor that he ordered an MRI of my neck to find out why I was having tingling down my right arm. The MRI showed cervical compression & a shadow of a tumor at the base of my brain. Then I heard the words, "You have a brain tumor. It's called a meningioma, & it's probably benign. You need to have a brain MRI done, then you need to see a neurosurgeon." My neurosurgeon told me that because my tumor was 6 cm, it had been there between 10 & 20 years.

I had a cervical fusion in May 2007 & a craniotomy in September 2007 & I am doing great. I'm getting some of my balance back, have suffered no more ocular migraines & I'm swimming laps once again. Life is good! I'm one of the lucky ones.

My realization is that much needs to be done to raise awareness of the importance of early detection. Since my experience, I've been saying that a brain MRI needs to be added to the list of necessary screening as are mammograms, pap tests, colon screenings, prostrate testing, etc., but haven't known how to get past just talking about this need. Hopefully, I will find a way to assist the Brain Tumor Foundation or some other group in promoting the need for early detection. My other hope is that, in the near future, I will be able to write another article spreading the news that brain MRI's are part of preventive medicine.