There are a few different anxiety disorders, and they are all surprisingly common in the general population, from students to working adults. These conditions could make you feel as though you are no longer in control, and you will likely start to feel extremely stressed and overwhelmed, regardless of where you are or what you are doing. But anxiety does not have to be crippling, and there are ways to control your anxiety so that it will no longer get in the way of your daily life.
First of all, you could check out helpful resources like those found on Mental Health and Money Advice if you feel like your anxiety is impacting your life in serious ways, for example financially. Also, talking to a professional could help you understand your feelings and how to cope with them. But beyond that, you could implement the following tips to control anxiety into your daily life.
Write Your Thoughts Down on Paper
Anxiety could cause you to have a lot of stressful thoughts, and those thoughts could recur, making them even more difficult to deal with. But if you start a diary and write down your thoughts, you might be able to make them at least slow down, if not stop. You could do this at night if, like a lot of people, you tend to think about things that you have been through and that you are going through. If your thoughts are keeping you up at night, jotting them down before bed might help you release them and get the rest that you need.
Drink More Water
This may seem like a strange tip at first, but drinking more water could help you control your anxiety. You might not realise it, but you might be dehydrated, and even though that condition does not directly lead to anxiety, it could make your anxiety symptoms more severe. So, drinking an additional two to three glasses of water each day will help to hydrate you physically and perhaps even make it easier to manage your anxiety.
Breathe Deep
Whether you are feeling general anxiety, or you are about to have an anxiety attack, deep breathing might help. Stop what you are doing and focus on diaphragmatic breathing, in particular. This slow and relaxed type of breathing will help tell your body that it is time to relax. It might even have a tranquilising effect upon your body and mind, thereby reducing the stress response and potentially stopping an anxiety attack before it takes hold. So, focus on breathing from the diaphragm, taking deep breaths, and slowing down your mind and body for a few minutes.
Get More Exercise
In addition to helping to improve your overall health, exercise might even help you control your anxiety. Plus, a regular exercise routine might also help you shed some extra weight, which is a nice bonus.
Basically, exercise could help improve your mental health by releasing brain chemicals that could boost your mood and relax you. Physical activity could also help balance your hormones and lower the amount of stress hormone that is found in your body. And because exercise makes your muscles tired while making them stronger, you might even notice that you are able to get a better night’s sleep when you work out regularly. Whether you get a membership to a local gym to start lifting weights, you start jogging, or you enrol in some yoga classes, the goal is to get your body moving.
Focus on Something Else
When you start to feel anxious or a panic attack coming on, try your best to distract yourself from what you are feeling. After all, the more that you focus on your anxiety, the worse it could become, so distracting yourself by talking to a friend you trust, counting to 100, playing your favourite game, reading a magazine or book, or even cleaning up and organising your environment, could be beneficial. These distractions could help take your mind off your anxious thoughts and put your focus on happier—or at least more neutral—things instead.
Seek Professional Treatment
When you have tried other strategies but they are not effective enough to help you manage your anxiety with greater ease, consider talking to your doctor. A mental health assessment will help determine what type of anxiety disorder you are suffering with. And talking to a psychologist could help you gain a better understanding of your condition and the treatment options that are available. The point is that you don’t have to go about it alone, as there are plenty of professionals out there who are qualified to help people just like you, and you don’t need to suffer silently.
Now that you know a few of the top ways to cope with, as well as control, your anxiety on a daily basis, hopefully you can regain control and feel more at ease wherever you go.