Anxiety – Who Cares?
Whenever Mom gets to feeling anxious – which happens to her a lot – she looks at me and asks, “What is that thing we say?” and, knowing just what she means, I say, “So what.”
“Yes,” she sighs, sinking back into her pillows. “So what.”
What we mean is: So what that I am feeling this way or that way? There is no story here – no drama to get caught up in.
There is no need to spin ourselves into a frenzy trying to figure out WHY she is feeling anxious. We don’t need to know the cause or the cure.
All of that just holds our attention on the anxiety – which gives it more power – and makes it increase.
We’ve found that when we meet her anxiety with our secret code, asking, “So what?” the anxiety just sits there, not bothering anyone.
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[…] So What by Amy Oscar “So what that I am feeling this way or that way? There is no story here – no drama to get caught up in. No reason for this anxiety that we have to investigate.” Uh huh. […]
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I suffer terribly from anxiety and am going to remember these words and try them. Thanks.
So simple. I can hear you saying the words. This is one to remember…
As I hear your voice, dear friend, in this comment.
Such a helpful easy way to stop the spinning. I want to remember it in the middle of the night and tell my husband too. THank you.
It really does help – the mind needs to rest, too. 🙂
That is beautiful, precise and incredibly insightful. Well done for both you and your mother.
Thank you! And thanks for stopping by to leave a comment.