"Angus
pulled into the driveway of his home with the usual trepidation gnawing at his
stomach. He could never pinpoint the exact cause of his apprehension. Was it
due to anxiety over what mood Cassy may be in? Or what family disaster he, as
the resident white knight, may be forced to ride in and deal with? Or was his
nervousness caused by worrying about whether Cassy may have used her intuition
to discern his unfaithfulness. He was not even remotely confident of being able
to effectively refute any accusations she may throw at him. He shook his head
to clear the fog of discomfiting thoughts, then climbed out of the car and made
slowly for the front door.
‘Hi
daddy,’ said a little creature which attached itself to Angus’ leg as soon as
he opened the door.
‘Hello
Sam.’"
Lovesick
chapter 9
Anxiety
can accurately be described as a gnawing feeling. This persistent, biting and
chewing of apprehension is a step up from butterflies, and is often caused by a
form of paranoia. Whether grounded in reality or not, a fearfulness with
regards to coming events can cause the stomach to churn and the head to pound.
At its worst anxiety can be debilitating. At best it is uncomfortable and disconcerting:
a joy stealer.
There
are some things we can do to ameliorate anxiety, or in some cases avoid it
altogether. In Lovesick, part of Angus’ discomfiture and consequent reticence
about returning home after work was caused by his own misbehaviour.
If
your anxiety stems from guilt, cease your wrongdoing and confess it. If you are
worrying about things because you fear the unknown, embrace your fear as
natural to some extent, but don’t let it stop you from doing things. Learn to
recognize when your fear is a rational warning of danger, and when it is simply
a fear of not being in control. You can’t control everything in your life. You
are not the master of your own destiny. Change your thinking and change your
behaviour. Get professional help if you need it, or talk to friends and family.
Share your burdens and they will grow lighter. The gnawing in your stomach will
end.
And
if all else fails…don’t worry, be happy!
