anniemariejames:

[QUOTE]I have anxiety - I've never been diagnosed[/QUOTE]Disclose your psychological symptoms to a health care practitioner!

boodlebear:

[QUOTE]A trained practitioner is one's best bet.[/QUOTE]Here the gap between onset of anxiety symptoms, and diagnosis & treatment, is typically [COLOR="Red"]decades[/COLOR]!

Hello boodlebear:

[QUOTE]I'd rather deal with issues now[/QUOTE]Behaviour therapy for anxiety is confronting!

[QUOTE]My having certain aversions to things[/QUOTE]Disclose your [COLOR="Red"]specific phobia[/COLOR] to a health care practitioner!

[QUOTE]how to deal with "it"[/QUOTE]Exposure with response prevention (E/RP). Please consult a psychologist!

[QUOTE]I am braced[/QUOTE]Loosen up: get a massage!

[QUOTE]your picking this apart and quoting Wikipedia[/QUOTE]You are [COLOR="Red"]dictating[/COLOR] to me what to do! A [COLOR="red"]controlling[/COLOR] nature is part of anxiety.

boodlebear:[QUOTE]I'm just teasing you.[/QUOTE]I (standing) have a nervous temperament (worsened by work stress).

Prayer is not going to cure anxiety. It can help in that you take the time to quiet your mind, slow your breathing. Also, if prayer truly gives you a sense of comfort and ability to handle things, of course, it will help.

For me, anxiety was bigger than me and any tricks. It was not debilitating, but definitely hurt my quality of life. I am on antidepressants and it made all the difference. Now the "tricks" really work and I can have a true spiritual life because my mind is calm and I feel like the person I am supposed to be.

The things that help:

sleep
exercise
breathing exercises
a balance of quiet time and time with others
less caffeine and sugar
prayer
Challenging your thoughts. Try the book "Feeling Good"
Be aware of your self talk.
If you are a perfectionist, get a book on that. Gotta let that go. Not easy, but worth it.
Therapy can help. EMDR is an interesting technique. Therapists can teach relaxation.