Everyone experiences anxiety at some point in their life. But some people experience anxiety to such an extreme that it takes over their life and impairs their ability to function. But there are things that you can do to take control over anxiety and ease the hold that it has. This article contains ways to help you cope with your anxiety.
Try to manage the everyday stress in your life if you want to keep anxiety under control. Stress can be a huge cause of anxiety. Learn to do tasks at an easier pace so that you’re not so stressed out all the time. Also, give yourself time to unwind at the end of the day.
Proper breathing is essential to reducing sudden feelings of anxiety. Using a count to control your breathing can be an effective way to reduce anxious feelings. Pick a count, such as 3 in, and 3 out. Repeat this pattern, until the feelings of anxiety have resolved, and passed.
If you have an anxiety disorder, it may be wise to seek out a support group for people with anxiety disorder and panic attack. Being around others who share your symptoms can be a great comfort and will allow you to share ideas for controlling anxiety and overcoming your fears.
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 believe you are suffering from symptoms related to anxiety disorder, the very first person that you should discuss this issue with is your primary care physician. Your family doctor will be able to inform you whether the symptoms that are causing you alarm are caused by an anxiety disorder, another medical problem, or a combination of the two.
A terrific method of managing anxiety is to engage in vigorous physical activity. If stressful situations start to get the better of you, heading out for a bit of moderate exercise can cause physiological release of feel-good chemicals into the bloodstream. This, in turn, will cause a sense of happiness and relaxation to take hold in no time.
Avoid things that could raise your blood pressure. This includes high levels of salt and sodium, caffeine and even alcohol. These substances can raise your heart rate and your blood pressure, making your anxiety symptoms worse. While avoiding these items might not eliminate your anxiety, it will keep it from feeling so out of control.
If you are a big coffee drinker you should do yourself a huge favor and switch to decaffeinated coffee. Many people that suffer from anxiety do not realize the negative effects that coffee can have on their moods. Switching to decaf is a good idea, if you do not want to stop drinking coffee altogether.
What is the one thing that will ultimately keep anxiety away from you for good? If you take the time to smile and laugh, you will be making a significant effort in dealing with your anxiety. Be sure that you have things in your life to be thankful for and happy about. If you go through a panic attack, search for something funny, such as a comedy song or show.
Volunteer in your community. Finding something that really makes you feel good about doing it, will have a very positive impact in your life. The happier you are, the less anxious you will feel. You could work at a homeless shelter, read to kids at the library, or work at an animal shelter. Whatever makes you feel the best will help you the most.
If anxiety is an issue, “me” time is very important. Lack of relaxation and being over-worked, are direct links to anxiety and stress. Take an hour each day to just read or watch TV.
Coffee is a drink that you should try to avoid or limit at all costs in the morning and night. If you require energy, eat a piece of fruit instead of consuming coffee. Coffee contains a lot of caffeine and the heat from this drink can raise your anxiety level.
Try to reduce your consumption of caffeinated beverages. Caffeine increases your state of awareness and stimulates the production of adrenaline. If you suffer from anxiety, you are already in a state of heightened awareness and your adrenaline levels are already too high most of the time. Therefore, consuming any beverages with caffeine in them could cause your anxiety symptoms to spiral out of control.
Seek good association. It is very important to remain social, in order to, stay happy and as worry free as possible. Not only that, but without someone providing feedback to you, it is very common for people to create worst case scenarios in their head about the anxieties they are dealing with.
Give it time. Sometimes the healing process from anxiety related issues can be very gradual. Many times you might not feel like you are making any progress at all. The key to this is to understand that it takes time. When you look back over the months you will notice your progress, and after a year, you will be able to notice a significant change.
If you are a victim of anxious feelings, stay away from gambling. Gambling can be terrible for your stress levels, no matter if you lose or win. Heavy gambling losses can create a level of anxiety that can last for long periods of time.
Keep a journal for writing down any situation that produces feelings of anxiety. Over time, your journal will reveal patterns and triggers for your anxiety episodes. It is then much easier to develop strategies for dealing with the triggers. You will be better able to avoid placing yourself in anxiety producing situations in the future.
As previously stated, everyone experiences anxiety at some point in their life. But extreme anxiety that interferes with your enjoyment of life is not normal and must be dealt with. The advice and the tips from the above article can help you take charge of your anxiety and get back to the life you love.