Anxiety is a normal part of everyone’s life. Because of this, it’s critical to locate strategies that will assist you with keeping it in check. These strategies may be a few things, such as meditation and talk therapy, or it may just be as simple as ridding yourself of whatever triggers your anxiety. Whether you’re suffering from agoraphobia or arachnophobia and anywhere in between, here’s a quick look at a few ways to deal with the anxiety we face on a daily basis
Identify and Manage Triggers
If you think you suffer from anxiety, you can take an anxiety test to find out if you are experiencing symptoms. You can also speak to your therapist or primary care physician. Then, it’s a matter of identifying your triggers. Sometimes, these triggers can be rather overt, such as smoking, alcohol, or caffeine. However, that isn’t always the case.
Long-term issues, such as work-related or financial situations might take a bit of time to settle. Once you determine your triggers for anxiety, it’s time to do something about them. Instead of using alcohol and drugs to cope, try limiting the exposure you have to your triggers, if possible. If that isn’t possible, use a few different methods of coping, like some of the ones we’re about to discuss.
Meditation
It can take a bit of practice to successfully do this. However, meditation, when done on a regular basis, can eventually assist you with training your brain to get rid of any sort of anxiety-causing thoughts as soon as they show up. If you’re the type of person that concentrating and sitting still isn’t easy for, begin with yoga.
Write It Down
Writing down the things that make you more anxious can get it out of your brain and then it becomes a bit less daunting. Journaling is a technique for relaxation that can be incredibly helpful for people who sporadically experience anxiety. It may also assist people suffering from Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) when they find themselves tied in knots with anxiety.
Side note: if you suffer from GAD, you should never just rely on quick methods of coping. You also need to find long-term ways to cope that can assist you with lessening the severity of your symptoms and that may even be preventive measures. Please reach out to your doctor.
CBT
Adaptive cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a method that assists people with learning different ways to think about, and therefore react to, situations that cause them anxiety. Your therapist can assist you with developing ways to change any negative thoughts and behavioral patterns before they begin to spiral.
Aromatherapy
Whether you use them in candle form, incense, or oils, scents like sandalwood, chamomile, and lavender can be more soothing than you might think. It’s thought that aromatherapy can assist with the activation of certain receptors in your brain that can assist with easing anxiety.
Keep It Healthy
Remaining connected to the people who care about you, getting enough sleep on a nightly basis, eating well-balanced meals, and exercising on a regular basis can be quite effective at getting rid of anxiety. While these are simple things, sometimes it’s the littlest things that can make the biggest impact.
If you notice that quick things that should help you with coping with your anxiety just aren’t working, you might want to think about seeing a professional for additional assistance. This is especially true if you believe you may be suffering from GAD and it begins to interfere with your daily routine and cause physical symptoms.
Anxiety might be a part of all of our lives, but it shouldn’t take over our days. Even the worst anxiety disorders can be treated by professionals so their symptoms aren’t overpowering. Speak to your doctor about what would be best for you.
