Learning to cope with anxiety is a difficult challenge. Just admitting you suffer from anxiety can be hard, and trying to navigate your way through life while avoiding the pitfalls anxiety presents is overwhelming. The following article will offer you advice on how to cope with anxiety, and live a happier and more normal life.
Music is really great for easing anxiety. If you’re having a hard time when it comes to anxiety, try playing your favorite album. Focus on each word in the lyrics. Before long you will experience a reduction in your anxiety and an improvement in your mind set. If you keep your mind occupied, you will find that you have less time to worry about your anxiety.
Therapy, in conjunction with keeping a journal, can really help you when dealing with your anxiety. It can help you realize what the anxiety is stemming from and you can then talk to your therapist about it. Talking to others and discussing your problems is always a good idea.
When you feel your anxiety coming to a head, you can help get the feelings of worry under control by controlling your breathing. When you are anxious, your breathing rate increases, which itself, can cause a heightened sense of fear. Breathe in and out slowly, counting to four on each inhale and exhale. In addition to slowing down your breathing, it also gives you something to focus on besides the source of your anxiety.
You can never relieve your anxiety by hiding in your home and focusing on your condition. Find something to occupy your mind; something you enjoy doing and that keeps your mind busy. Creative outlets, such as a new hobby, provide a fun way to keep your mind busy and helps to keep it off of whatever is making you anxious.
Set goals for you to reach every day. If you are constantly reaching positive goals on your list, you are happy about your life, and can tackle one problem at a time. You can then put that bother that caused some anxiety behind you forever. Who wants to spend their time worrying?
Try to minimize the amount of negative words that you are using or negative comments that you are making. The more negative talk you do, the more negative thoughts and anxiety that can come creeping into your head, causing you unneeded health issues that will affect your life in some very bad ways.
Exercise. Get into doing some sort of daily exercise routine. Go for a walk or a run, join the gym, or buy a workout DVD that you do each day. This extra activity releases dopamine and seratonin into your body, boosts your mood and your oxygen levels. All of these things work together to keep you healthier, happier and less stressed.
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.
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.
You should consult a doctor. A lot of people who suffer from anxiety, do not think that their feelings warrant a trip to the doctor, but the truth is that there are many factors that could cause anxiety, and the doctor will be able to best diagnose the causes. Because the doctor will determine the underlying cause of your anxiety, he can properly prescribe the right solution for you.
One way to cope with anxiety is to just breathe! By focusing on your breathing and taking slow, even breaths is one of the easiest ways to relax. Start by counting to five as you inhale, then exhale for the same amount of time. You’ll start to feel calmer, and you’ll buy yourself some time to deal with a difficult situation.
Believe it or not, a nice, deep massage may be what is needed for you to control your anxiety. When you are tense, your stress levels are high and anxiety tends to flare up. Getting a massage helps physically relax your body, which in turn, allows your mind to relax as well.
Avoid alcohol. While it is true that alcohol’s depressive effects can reduce anxiety levels temporarily, in the long run it does more harm than good. The body quickly adjusts to alcohol, meaning that each time a person relies on it to calm him or herself, it will require more alcohol to achieve the same effects. This can quickly lead to dependence and alcoholism.
Visualize yourself becoming calmer. If you start to feel too anxious, take a step back and close your eyes. Think of a peaceful scene or someone who makes you feel good. See that person or place in your mind and you will immediately feel some level of relief. When you open your eyes, you will be better able to deal with any situation that you’re in.
If you have not been able to control your anxiety on your own, try consulting with a professional. Sometimes, we do not give enough through as to what is happening in our lives, or we just do not properly care for ourselves. Professionals can help you figure out why you are anxious and how to deal with it.
Hopefully this article leaves you knowing more about anxiety than before you read it and has provided you with some helpful ideas you can use against it. Anxiety can really tie you up and keep you from reaching for your dreams. Take comfort in the fact that you are not alone with this condition and that there is help out there.