There are times that we encounter fearful thoughts that can be
difficult to manage. For some people, the more they try to get
rid of the thoughts, the stronger the thoughts become and the
more difficult they become to manage. As a result, here is a
brief list of techniques that a person can use to help manage
their fearful and obsessive thoughts and anxieties.

The first thing a person must do is not to dwell or focus on the
fear provoking thought when it comes. The more a person tries to
reason out the thought or focus on the fear behind the thought,
the stronger the thought becomes. The next time you encounter an
obsessive thought, get into the practice of not dwelling on it.

From my interviews with various psychologists, I was told that a
person should visualize a red stop sign in their mind when they
encounter a fear provoking thought. When the negative thought
comes, a person should think of a red stop sign which serves as a
reminder to stop focusing on that thought and to think of
something else. A person can then try to think of something
positive to replace the negative thought.

A person should keep a small notebook of positive statements that
makes them feel good. Whenever they come across a positive and
uplifting verse that makes them feel good, write it down in a
small notebook. A person can then carry this notebook around in
their pocket and whenever they feel anxious, they can read their
notebook.

Our fearful thoughts can sometimes produce a lot of anxiety. When
this happens, a person should take a deep breathe and try to find
something to do for a few minutes to get their mind off of the
problem. A person could take a walk, listen to some music, read
the newspaper or do an activity that will give them a fresh
perspective on things.

Although I am a Layman and not a professional, I have interviewed
many counselors and I learned that there are many ways to deal
with these kinds of thoughts. From my interviews, I’ve learned
that usually it is the fear behind the thought that gets us
worked up. When dealing with fearful and obsessive thoughts, do
not dwell on the thought.