What is Anxiety?
Have you ever felt an intense feeling causing you large amounts of stress and worry? You were most likely experiencing some level of anxiety.
Work demands, family, finances, etc., are just a few of the things in life that can cause us to feel like we’re drowning.
I’ve had my fair share of moments with anxiety, and I can say first hand that dealing with them was no breeze. Feeling that we’re not in control in a stressful situation can be pretty scary.
Thoughts are all over the place, your heart is racing, feelings of helplessness sometimes set in, and the moment seems to last forever.
Feeling like we’re in over our heads, and not taking the proper action to address it, can take a serious toll on our overall health.
How Does it Affect Our Wellbeing?
We as humans, often tend to think things are worse than they really are. This is not to say that many situations are not extremely difficult, but most of the time there is an achievable solution to the problem.
While we all deal with anxiety in our own ways, many of us let our emotions get the best of us (I too am guilty of this!), often causing ourselves unnecessary stress.
We have to remind ourselves that we can’t undo the past or constantly worry about the future.
Anxiety can even cause us to become physically ill. Uneasy stomachs, headaches, exhaustion and rapid heart beats are some of the symptoms associated with anxiety.
One of my experiences with anxiety was caused by my financial situation at the time. I was never in too much credit card debt, but it was enough to hang over my head causing me constant stress.
The worst part was feeling too overwhelmed to do anything about it.
Thankfully I was able to talk myself down and approach things with a positive mindset which allowed me to take action.
I had a plan in place…I used the snowball method, (paying the smallest card first, for a small win that motivated me to move to the next card) and was able to pay the debt off quickly.
Since then, I realized I had to find ways to cope with feelings of anxiety, and tried a few different methods.
Below are the tips that I found work best to reduce and manage my anxiety most effectively, I hope you find them helpful!
Here are 6 Highly Effective Tips for Managing Anxiety:
1. Take Deep Breaths
Ahh, the power of breathing! Simply taking some deep breaths can bring your mind back to a stable state, making it easier to take a step back and assess the situation.
Inhale for four seconds and exhale for six seconds; then repeat. Guided breathing meditation is awesome for this, I use the Headspace app and absolutely love it!
I do this as soon as I feel an overwhelming feeling come over me and instantly feel less stressed.
2. Identify What is Triggering Your Anxiety
Acknowledging what is causing the anxiety is half the battle. Being able to look it in the face, makes it lose its power and gives you the control, (sounds dramatic, but this is truly how I feel about it).
Pinpoint the cause of your anxiety and ask yourself what parts of it you have any control over.
When you’re clear about the root of your anxiety, you’ll begin to feel less overwhelmed and more motivated to tackle the problem.
You’ll also feel a bit more confident and begin to realize it’s not as bad as you thought, you got this! Try some relaxing yoga to help clear your mind and guide you through the anxiety.
3. Get Better Sleep
Sleep deprivation can add to feelings of anxiety. When I get good quality sleep, I notice that I’m less likely to feel anxious the next morning.
If you have trouble sleeping, sticking to a certain sleep schedule and creating a calm environment can help. Even soft, comfy pajamas can make it easier to drift off into a deep sleep which can reduce anxiety levels in your body.
4. Create an Action Plan
Make a list of three things you can do to help the cause of your anxiety, and focus on these. Make them simple enough to accomplish so that you will be motivated to follow through.
Execute each item on your list, slowly, one by one. Once you have crushed the first three, draft another three things you can do to continue with progress.
Soon enough, you’ll be wondering why you let the anxiety get the better of you in the first place!
5. Don’t Be Too Hard on Yourself
Do something relaxing that you enjoy and reset. Listen to your favorite music, have some self care time or watch a good comedy show.. Laughter can help ease some of your anxiety.
Remind yourself that you are doing your best. When we allow ourselves to pause and relax, we are better equipped to face life’s challenges.
6. Maintain a Positive Attitude
You’ve heard me say this before, maintaining a positive attitude can only help with any negative feelings you may be experiencing.
Though it may be hard to see the bright side in a stressful moment, I simply ask that you try to focus on ways to make it better.
Positive self-talk is one of the ways I get myself through anxiety. Think of one of your best qualities and how you may be able to apply it to your current situation.
If you’re not able to think clearly at that particular moment, phone a friend or family member who can remind you of just how awesome you really are!
The Bottom Line
Anxiety is something we will all experience at some point in our lives. Having some go-to methods for overcoming it, can prepare you for these stressful moments, helping to keep you in control.
Remember to reset and come back to these tips when overwhelming feelings begin to creep in again! What are some tips for managing anxiety that are effective for you? Please share your comments below!
