We all have an enemy.

Someone who never ceases to irritate, embarrass and disappoint us. Someone whom we could really do without but we’re nonetheless shackled to them. They’re with us when we wake up and we can’t even get away from us when we go to sleep. Yep, that nemesis is ourselves. Or at least, the less than flattering parts of ourselves. The parts that we wish we could bury or sever from our conscience. The parts with which we’re locked in what seems like a never ending battle.

While it can be disheartening and ruinous to our quality of life when we have a less than  perfect relationship with ourselves, it’s worth remembering that just because it’s a never ending battle doesn’t mean that we cannot win. There are many of us who have spent years at war with the worst aspects of their nature yet find themselves victorious more often than not.

However, this is a war that even the strongest of us cannot win alone. We need guidance, support and coping strategies if we’re to relinquish the often crippling hold that the following can have upon us.

Anxiety

Let’s face it, no matter who you are or what you do, the times in which we’re living are conducive to anxiety. In an era of wage repression it never seems like there’s enough money to live off and we need only scroll through our news feed to see something that makes us want to lock all the doors and cloister ourselves away from the world and all its myriad risks.

When we are younger and trying to make sense of the world around us anxiety can be especially crippling, but it can affect us at all ages with socially and psychologically damaging results. Teen anxiety treatment can be a great way to keep anxiety at bay when we’re in our earlier years. However, there are many ways in which we can keep anxiety at bay using cognitive therapies and herbal supplements.

Depression

Depression is a beast that many of us grapple with, from chronic depression to Seasonal Anxiety Disorder. Indeed, it’s estimated that 1 in 12 of us suffers with depression in the US alone. This struggle may never truly end for many of us as depressive episodes can strike time and again throughout our lives.

However, we can keep it at bay with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy which teaches us to deconstruct and defuse unhelpful thoughts before they have the opportunity to weigh heavily on our psyche. Plus, never underestimate the importance of diet in keeping depression at bay.

Anger and stress

It’s little wonder that so many of us find ourselves pushed to anger by stress in today’s world. Unfortunately, the world around us is unlikely to change. So we must change the way in which we deal with stress and prevent ourselves from responding with anger. Simple breathing exercises can make a universe of difference when managing stress and make you a much nicer, brighter and more pleasant person to be around.

So, pick up your weapon of choice and start fighting!