RKI.IEF of ANXIETY

The legitimate question remains: How oth­erwise than by sublimation can we reduce or minimize the burdens of anxiety inevitably generated by conflicts in the unconscious mind?

The first step is to understand that anxiety wears many disguises We have tried to strip a number of these disguises away by de­scribing the behavior patterns that result from overworking of the mental mechanisms. The perfectionist, the hypochondriac, the man who continually projects his own failings on others, the woman who always rationalizes her mistakes, and all the rest are motivated by an inner anxiety. This emotion may pa­rade as fatigue, over activity, homesickness, physical illness, a sense of inferiority, depression, and in scores of other guises. By recognizing that anxiety is the basic motiva­tion for personal conduct which displeases himself and attracts unfavorable reactions from others the individual is in a better posi­tion to seek and get help with his problem.

How else do you get rid of anxiety? Essen­tially by talking it out' University of Califor­nia Medical School psychiatrists J. Ruesch and A. R. Prestwood* made a special study of the problem of relieving anxiety and came to this well-accepted conclusion

The successful management of anxiety generated in daily life seems possible only through a process of sharing and communication.

The process of communication is essential for healthy functioning. Thus are people able to combine their efforts, to complement and increase their ability to cope with their sur­roundings The ability to communicate and hence to share anxiety seems to constitute the process responsible for feelings of personal security on the part of the individual. Allevi­ation of anxiety comes through personal con­tacts. This process is basic to all interpersonal relationships from babyhood to old age.

In addition to this crucial means of reliev­ing anxiety, we now have drugs to aid in the task   This  is the class of drugs, known as tranquilizers, introduced into medical prac­tice in the 1950's. Tranquilizers are chemical compounds specifically useful for the relief of anxiety. However, you cannot depend on tranquilizers alone, or any other drug, to dis­pel all the hosts of anxieties.