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Tag: reduction
Relationships: Anxiety Reduction Techniques

Relationships: Anxiety Reduction Techniques

By Barton Goldsmith, McClatchy-Tribune News Service

When you are feeling anxious, there are a number of things you can do to decrease the tension and get back to life as you know it. Remember that you can feel panic even if the source of your anxiety is not immediately present, because sometimes stress just floats out there for a little while, trying to get your attention.

Fear can control us, but you have more power over it than you may think. Here are a few exercises you can do to feel better about yourself in anxious situations.

Get your anxiety out on the table: If you are in a relationship, you can do this exercise with your partner. You also can do it with anyone in your life who is a good listener.

Step 1: Look at and talk about the worst-case scenario. Get all your feelings and fears out on the table. Be sure to discuss what you’d do in the worst-case scenario and how serious the consequences would be.

Step 2: Talk about the best-case scenario and revel in all that it brings you. Take a moment to really soak in all of the positive changes that may happen.

Step 3: Look at what’s most likely to happen. While you can’t be certain, it’s reasonable to expect that most of these scenarios will fall somewhere in the middle of the worst- and best-case scenario. Remember that the results are also largely dependent on what you make of what happens.

Going through this process will decrease any anxiety you may be feeling and help you embrace the positives in your life. Taking this tried-and-true action will yield positive results.

Be proactive about your anxiety. Some people take supplements like fish oil, or they drink chamomile tea to help them relax. Daily exercise is also a great anxiety reducer. So is meditation, if you would rather be less physically active.

Avoid the news and watch a comedy instead. Events you see on TV or read in the papers may trigger your anxiety. I’m not suggesting you live in a cave, but if you are having a nervous day, it might be best to do something more pleasant than watching the news. Once you learn what brings on your anxiety, it will help you avoid the unexpected bouts.

Remember the places that make you feel peaceful inside. Being by water or in nature is very calming for many people. Sometimes reading a book by the pool can be as good as reading one in the mountains. The trick is to find and then remember the places that make you feel most peaceful, and the next time anxiety hits you, go to a quiet spot and just imagine yourself back in your peaceful place. I know it sounds too simple, but it works very well.

Get your day going right. When I wake up in the morning, the first thing I do is a brief meditation. Simply visualizing a peaceful day ahead and reminding myself that I am safe are helpful little tools that can make the difference between a nervous day and one of tranquility. I use this meditation technique throughout the day whenever necessary.

You don’t have to be a victim of anxiety. If these exercises don’t give you enough relief, please see a medical professional. Many medications can be helpful, and even if you don’t like the idea of pills, just talking with a doctor can be reassuring.

bottled_void via Flickr

Most Americans Support Tax Increases To Reduce Deficit

We know that President Obama wants tax increases as part of the deficit reduction plan, and we know that Republican politicians vehemently do not want them. But what does the general public want?

Bruce Bartlett compiled data from 27 national polls conducted between November 2010 and Sept. 16, 2011. The results? A whopping average 64.5 percent of respondents said the budget deficit should be reduced through increasing taxes, and only 30 percent said they wanted all spending cuts and no tax increases.

So the Republican politicians who refuse any tax increases can claim a lot of things on this issue, but they certainly can’t claim they’re representing the people of the United States.

What Does Obama’s Speech Mean For The Supercommittee?

President Obama announced his $3 trillion deficit reduction proposal today, which has many on the left praising the president’s willingness to tax the wealthy and many on the right grumbling. But what does this mean for the 12 members of the “supercommittee” tasked with reducing the deficit?

Obama said in his speech today,

“I will not support — I will not support — any plan that puts all the burden for closing our deficit on ordinary Americans. And I will veto any bill that changes benefits for those who rely on Medicare but does not raise serious revenues by asking the wealthiest Americans or biggest corporations to pay their fair share. We are not going to have a one-sided deal that hurts the folks who are most vulnerable.”

This creates a tricky situation for the six Republican members of the supercommittee: All of them have signed Republican Tax King Grover Norquist’s pledge to not raise taxes under any circumstances. So if they stick to their pledge, and Obama sticks to his new promise, the supercommittee’s plan will almost definitely be vetoed.

If the supercommittee misses its Thanksgiving deadline for making recommendations to trim the deficit by $1.2 trillion within the next 10 years, automatic spending cuts will be implemented starting in 2013.

Some commentators believe the president’s speech guarantees that the supercommittee’s recommendations will not be approved. Andy Kroll of Mother Jones wrote, “Obama’s veto threat essentially extinguishes even the slightest glimmer of hope that those dozen lawmakers would reach an agreement that could pass both chambers and win Obama’s support.”

After Obama’s speech, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said, “The good news is that the joint committee is taking this issue far more seriously than the White House.”

But with such a strong veto promise from the president, many wonder whether the supercommittee’s work — however “serious” it might be — will yield any results.

New Poll: Americans Support Higher Medicare Premiums For Richer Retirees

A new poll from ABC and the Washington Post reveals that voters support requiring rich retirees to pay higher Medicare premiums and Social Security taxes in order to reduce the national debt.

The poll, conducted July 14–17, found that 61% of Americans believe wealthier retirees should pay higher Medicare premiums than less affluent Americans, and 66% believe those making over $107,000 should pay higher taxes into Social Security. President Obama recently announced at a press conference that he supports raising Medicare premiums for those who can afford to pay as part of his “shared sacrifice” plan to reduce the deficit.

But most Americans, unlike Republicans, don’t want to slash spending on entitlement programs or make it tougher for ordinary Americans to get Medicare and Social Security payments. The vast majority of those polled (72%) oppose the government cutting Medicare spending. Just 46% believe the Medicare eligibility age should be raised from 65 to 67, and only 42% want the government to change “the way Social Security benefits are calculated so that benefits are calculated so that benefits increase at a slower rate than they do now.”

Instead of cutting social welfare programs that help retirees, voters want to reduce the deficit through higher taxes on rich individuals and corporations. A full 72% of Americans support higher taxes for those making over $250,000 a year, 66% want higher taxes on oil and gas corporations, and 64% believe taxes on hedge fund managers should be raised. Currently, the money that hedge fund managers and other Wall Street traders make off the stock market is taxed at only 15% because it’s considered “capital gains” rather than income.