Dealing with anxiety and stress can be tough, especially, if you do not have the proper tools. You should read this article and continue to do even more research about stress management techniques. This way, you can get a better idea of the kind of things that you can do to avoid a panic attack or reduce stress.
Choose a calming mantra that you can repeat to yourself when you feel anxious. Short, simple phrases work best, although some people prefer to chant a soothing sound. Select a mantra that is personally meaningful and that you can recall quickly. Repeat the mantra as often as needed, either in your head or out loud, if you are alone.
If you are anxious because of world events, you should avoid reading newspapers or watching news. Allow yourself to briefly review the news of the day, but don’t continuously check for updates about negative news that will serve to accentuate your fears.
Do not worry alone. When your worrisome thoughts go unchecked, they can easily spiral into terrible doomsday scenarios unnecessarily. Call a friend or supportive loved one, and run your fears past them. They can probably offer you some reassurance and perspective on what is bothering you, keeping your fears under control.
Try writing down what worries you. Carry a spare pad and pencil on you wherever you go, or type it on a smartphone, laptop, or tablet. When you are feeling anxious, try writing down what worries you. Writing it down is much harder than simply thinking about it, so the negative thoughts may disappear sooner.
If you are having high levels of anxiety, you need to make sure that you are getting enough sleep every day. When your body is deprived of sleep, it will make your adrenal glands work harder. If you have to, take short naps during the day to help your body not use as much adrenaline to keep going.
Always make it a point to focus on the positive things that are happening in your life, no matter how big or small it may be. Positive thoughts drown out the negative ones and the more positive thoughts you have, the smaller the problems in your life, will seem to you.
At times you will find yourself in different positions during a panic attack. If you have an anxiety attack, do whatever you can do in order to keep you distracted. Count down from 100, do math problems in your head, talk about good times you’ve had recently, and anything else that you can think of that could distract you in a positive manner.
Find something else to focus on. Instead of thinking about whatever it is that is causing your anxiety, find something calm, peaceful and serene to focus on. It could be a good memory, a future dream or goal, or just something that you find calm and soothing. Don’t forget to take deep breaths as you do this.
A comedy is a great cure for feelings of anxiety. Viewing this type of movie will not only help you to laugh and put things in perspective, but it also allows you to forget what was making you feel anxious in the first place.
Keep a log or a journal to try to figure out what your triggers are. Once you have the triggers mapped out, you will have a better idea of what you can do to reduce the anxiety that you feel in the different situations. Each situation may require a different management technique.
Don’t be afraid to talk to others about what you are feeling. Holding these fears inside is only going to make your situation worse. Instead, find a friend or family member who you trust or even, a registered counselor to talk to. Just a few minutes a week of good venting can do wonders for how you manage and feel.
Have a mantra to repeat when you are feeling some anxiety. When you start to feel anxious, repeat this mantra until you begin to calm down. This will help you deal with those feelings before they get on top of you and you have a full blown anxiety attack.
Do not watch television news. If you feel anxious as a result of hearing about robberies, car wrecks, murders and shootings, avoid exposing yourself to the news. The news tends to focus on these things since they grab the attention of people. It is not often that the news consists of good reports.
Regulate your sleep schedule. Are you getting enough sleep? Too much? Many people don’t realize the importance of sleep to the way that they function. Sleep is your body’s chance to recharge, energize and deal with your emotions. If you’re getting too much sleep, set an alarm and make yourself get out of bed. If you are not getting enough sleep, try talking to your doctor about options for sleep medication.
Use exercise as a way to relieve your anxiety symptoms. No matter what it is, whether it’s jogging around the block, biking, or swimming, getting your heart rate going is a great way to reduce anxiety. Research has shown that aerobic exercise is just as good as SSRIs at relieving mild to moderate anxiety. So get moving!
Have a plan in place for when you feel anxious. When you start feeling anxious, it can be hard to feel anything else. That’s why it’s a good idea to know what you will do when you start feeling that way. Being prepared for an anxiety attack will make the attack easier to get through.
Try eating snacks that are high in carbohydrates because these contain large amounts of seratonin, and it could make you feel a lot better when you consume them. Don’t over do it; eat excess carbs only when you start to feel anxious. It does work well for some folks.
As you can see, there are many different ways to manage your stress. Do not expect results right away because it might take time until you are able to focus on your relaxation exercises and truly control your anxiety. You will have to work hard toward this goal, but the result is worth it.