“Finding your triggers can be a useful step towards tackling anxiety, but it’s important to know that triggers don’t necessarily cause your anxiety - they simply set off the feelings of fear in your mind like a domino effect. This could be because of an association between the cause of your anxiety and the trigger in your mind - for example, if you’re anxious about your job, receiving an email could trigger feelings of anxiety. Common causes of anxiety are genetics, financial stress, relationship worries or concerns about a health condition. Meanwhile, common triggers are having too much time alone to think, or spending time in certain places or with certain people.
When everything seems to be going wrong, it’s easy to imagine the absolute worst-case scenario. Everybody does it. In fact, it’s a defence mechanism that our brains use to try to keep us safe. However, it can make your anxieties worse if you obsess about what might happen. Instead, allow yourself to think of the worst thing that could happen and then ask yourself what you would do to cope with that situation. Then put it to one side and try to move on. Don’t let yourself to start thinking about the worst-case scenario again.”
