Anxiety is worry about the future. In general, anxiety provides little useful function in our lives aside from making us hypervigilant in extreme cases that warrant it. Very often, we become obsessed with events that have yet to occur. Mark Twain once said, “I’ve had a lot of worries in my life, most of which never happened.” This would characterize the average person struggling with anxiety. Anxiety often prevents us from thinking clearly and taking necessary actions to deal with its source.

     There are a number of strategies for dealing with anxiety, the first of which is sorting out what is real versus what is mere conjecture. Mindfullness training can help bring us back to the present moment in a way that does not necessarily deny the source of one’s anxiety, but puts it in a context that is easier to deal with. Neurofeedbck can be a powerful technique that helps calm the nervous system, making it more resilient in times of stress.