Now we can consider more specific measures for the relief of the mental symptoms of anxiety. We include in this all the various forms of mental disquiet which anxiety brings to us: tension, apprehension, restlessness, and all the strange variations of feeling which bring us to know that all is not well with us.
We use trains of thought which are most appropriate to our own particular circumstances. But we must always remember that the procedure is effective only when we are first thoroughly relaxed, and have let ourselves regress into this primitive type of uncritical thinking.
Concentrate on the Feeling of Calm-If apprehension is a prominent symptom, as it often is, we can proceed like this:
Relaxed.
Whole of my body relaxed.
Calm all through me.
Calm in my face.
Calm in my mind.
Remember that it is not just a matter of repeating these ideas over to ourselves in our mind. We do it slowly, easily, comfortably, and really experience the feeling of each idea in turn.
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