Once you can cope with an anxiety attack, the next stage is to change the conditions that lead to the anxiety response. Anxiety is like a shortcut. When faced with uncertainty, the normal response is to stop, consider what might happen, and make a decision based on the best prediction you can make. The anxious person doesn’t go through this process but instead jumps into feeling afraid. No one enjoys uncertainty. There is always a tinge of anxiousness when you don’t know what the future holds. But jumping straight into fear is the worst way to handle the situation. Fear is almost never a good advisor. It blocks clear decision-making, and it exaggerates the risks and dangers that might lie ahead. (more…)