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.
To help you ensure anxiety is not taking control of your life, speak to your doctor about medications you can take to restore potential chemical balances. Medications are often prescribed for people dealing with anxiety disorders and the results have proven to be very effective in most cases.
If anxiety has taken over your life, get professional help. Nobody should have to suffer silently through the fear, or be forced to live a limited life due to anxiety. There is help available, so talk to a professional, or look online for a forum where you can discuss common issues with others. Doing nothing is condemning yourself to a miserable existence.
If negative news deeply affects you, then it might be time to put down the newspaper. Catch up on world events for a small period of time each day, but don’t dwell on external issues you are unable to control.
Planning ahead is a great way to reduce stress on a daily basis. Instead of waiting until the last minute for projects at work or school, start in advance to eliminate any hassle when you face crunch time. This will help to put you in the best position to maintain a positive mindset.
Keep yourself as busy as you possibly can. Being very active helps prevent any anxiety that may occur. As soon as you get up in the mornings, begin doing something immediately. Make sure you keep yourself busy all day long. Clean up the house, walk the dog, clean up your garden, read, or exercise. All these things can decrease your anxiety. Remaining idle just causes you to think about the negative things that are occurring in your life, which makes your anxiety worse.
If you find yourself feeling overly anxious, get outside and get some exercise. Exercise has many benefits for your whole body, and a good workout can really clear your mind and help improve your mood. You do not have to head to the gym or the pool, if you do not want to. Just taking a walk can help.
When you’re stressed, watch how you breathe. Your breathing will get shorter, erratic and varied at times. This panicked breathing pattern happens naturally when you become stressed. Keep in mind the body does need the right things, like water, air, and food. Make an effort to remind yourself to focus on your breathing when you feel yourself panic.
When you are creating your meals, try your best to incorporate as many vegetables as possible. If you are having meat, add a carrot or pea dish to complement your meal. These vegetables are fantastic as they provide you with natural vitamins that are great for improving your mood during the day.
Know when to seek professional help. If your anxiety causes you to self-medicate, decreases the quality or length of your sleep, or causes you to consider harming yourself, medical attention is necessary. A therapist, counselor or psychiatrist, can help you to create a treatment plan to alleviate your anxiety and keep you from hurting yourself.
Avoid thinking about things that worry you by doing something else. Keep busy by gardening or even, reading a book. As soon as you wake up, start your day doing something to keep your mind free of anxiety. This will keep your mind off of those things that bother you and cause you anxiety.
Alter the chemical make-up of your brain with exercise. Low serotonin often brings on anxiety which can be combated with exercise. Brisk walks with your dog, gym workouts and even gardening can all promote brain production of both dopamine and serotonin, which are natural relaxants. This will decrease both anxiety and depression.
If you feel that you are constantly thinking about the issues or problems that you have during the day, speak with a professional. Talking about your problems with someone else can help you get them out in the open so that they are not bottled up and causing you to worry.
Talking to someone you trust can help you with anxiety. Talking about your anxiety is a good way to analyze and minimize it. The best thing that you could do is to look for someone you can trust that has already gone though this particular situation in which you can ask for advice.
Use deep breathing techniques to calm anxiety. Try to breathe in for six counts and then out for six counts, through the nose. This will relax the central nervous system and calm anxious feelings. Since breathing can be done anywhere, this is a great on-the-spot treatment for anxiety.
Letting go of the past, may be what it takes, for you to get rid of anxiety. Many times, anxiety is caused by people dwelling on bad experiences from the past. You must have the mindset that the past is the past; and focus on the present and times to come.
Spend less time with people who cause you to feel anxious. Limiting your exposure to people who somehow always seem to make you feel bad is a step forward in reducing your feelings of anxiety. Setting boundaries that are healthy and respectful are a good way to protect you from the anxiety of others.
If you enjoy animals and live in a place where you can have a pet, then get a dog or a cat. A daily walk, enjoying nature with your dog is very relaxing and the exercise will do you good. Also, nothing is more calming than hearing your cat purr with contentment, while enjoying your company.
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.