7 Tips To Manage Anxiety
Everyone experiences anxiety from time to time, whether it is a job interview or an exam, anxiety is normal. Constantly worrying about everyday things can be a sign of Generalized Anxiety Disorder, especially if that anxiety interferes with your daily life. This post shares some tips on how to overcome those feelings of anxiety and regulate your nervous system.
Journaling - Journaling helps provide a way to put your feelings into words and direct your thoughts to another source, helping to keep a clear head. Sometimes it can even help you come up with potential solutions, so you are better able to take control of the situation, instead of letting the situation take control of you.
Psychotherapy - there is nothing wrong with utilizing psychotherapy to help with anxiety or any mental illness. Talking with a professional about what is on your mind is another great way to put your thoughts into words, and your therapist can give you techniques on how to cope better.
Medications - again, there is nothing wrong with taking medications for anxiety or any mental illness. Examples of medications for anxiety can include antidepressants, anti psychotics, and benzodiazepines.
Exercise - exercise, such as walking, yoga, and tai chi, for example, can help reduce stress and anxiety. Taking walks on work breaks helps boost endorphins, therefore helping boost mood and helping you feel refreshed upon returning to work. It also allows you to take our mind off of work for ten minutes and unwind for a bit. Exercises such as tai chi and yoga help release tension in the muscles, as well as the mind by helping to focus on the breath and breathing into those tight muscles to release the tension.
Meditation - meditation can help one bring awareness to the present moment. It allows you to let go of any other thoughts about your day and concentrate on one thing, especially if it is something that calms you, such as imagining a beautiful place in nature. This can help bring a sense of peace and relaxation. It can also help make you more self-aware and even help you develop new ways of seeing stressors.
Eat a balanced diet - Eating a balanced diet rich in nutrients such as omega 3s, B vitamins, and magnesium can help decrease feelings of anxiety.
Develop a routine that helps you wind down - It is easy to feel like you are in a race against the clock with all that you may have going on and feel like you need to get done. This is why it is important to settle into a routine to wind down, especially in the evenings. This means setting a specific time to put away work, school, and other responsibilities and tap into more soothing activities. Great activities to engage in include taking a walk, working out (if that is your thing), reading, journaling, or coloring. This helps to tell your brain that this time is not the time to think about your responsibilities; that time is over for the day, and it is your time.
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