Coping with Writing Anxiety
Many situations or activities, such as writing, taking tests, competing in sports, speaking before a large audience, and so on, can make us anxious or apprehensive. It's important to remember that some moderate level of anxiety is helpful and productive. That flow of adrenaline is a natural response that helps get us ready for action. Without it, we might not do as well.
If we let our anxiety overwhelm us, it can cause problems. If we control that apprehension, however, we can make it work for us. One way to do that is to use some of the coping strategies listed below.
Coping Strategies:
| Focus your energy by rehearsing the task in your head. |
| Consciously stop the non-productive comments running through your head by replacing them with productive ones. |
| If you have some "rituals" for writing success, use them. |
| Make sure the environment is appropriate for writing and creative thinking. A TV blaring away or kids climbing on top of you is not the best writing atmosphere. |
| Follow a protocol you may have for organizing your time. Use a favorite pen if you have one. |
| Have basic reference materials like a dictionary and thesaurus handy |
Relaxation Strategies
| Take a break: physically walk away from the situation for a few minutes if you can. This will help you think of new ideas. Make sure you have a pen and paper with you to jot down the new ideas so you do not forget them. |
| Stretch! If you can't stand up, stretch as many muscle groups as possible while staying seated. |
| Try tensing and releasing various muscle groups. Starting from your toes, tense up for perhaps five to ten seconds and then let go. Relax and then go on to another muscle group. |
| Breathe deeply. Close your eyes; then fill your chest cavity slowly by taking four of five short deep breaths. Hold each breath until it hurts, and then let it out slowly. |
| Use a calming word or mental image to focus on while relaxing. If you choose a word, be careful not to use an imperative. Don't command yourself to "Calm down!" or "Relax!" That will probably just make things worse. |