7 Simple Tips for Coping with Anxiety ...

Alison

7 Simple Tips for Coping with Anxiety ...
7 Simple Tips for Coping with Anxiety ...

Do you need some tips for coping with anxiety? When you suffer from anxiety, doing things that other people take for granted can be difficult. You miss out on a lot because of it. Anxious people can't just 'pull themselves together' as they're often advised, and switch off their anxiety. But you can find ways to alleviate and manage it. Here are some tips for coping with anxiety, so that you can enjoy more of what life has to offer …

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1. Put in Perspective

One of my tips for coping with anxiety is to try putting your worries in perspective. Ask yourself what is the worst that could happen? It may not be as bad as you think. Try to make your concerns appear smaller and less intimidating; you may realise that you can deal with them after all.

2. Take Action

When you suffer from anxiety, you tend to dwell on the things that worry you and get stuck in a cycle of thinking and worrying. The more you think, the more you worry - and all you can do is think. Taking action can help to break this cycle, and you will feel better that you are doing something. It's better than getting trapped in your thoughts and worries.

3. CBT

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy has proven helpful to many people who suffer from anxiety. It aims to change negative patterns and teach you the skills to cope. CBT can even be provided online, which is useful if you don't have easy access to a therapist. It's designed to be effective over a relatively short period of therapy.

4. Medication

Medication isn't always the answer to dealing with anxiety; CBT can be much more effective, as it helps to retrain your way of thinking. But in some cases, medication can be a useful tool in reducing your anxiety levels. I have meds that I take only when I need to; that doesn't happen very often, but it's helpful to know that I have that backup if I need it.

5. Distraction

Distracting yourself from your anxiety can also be useful. When you feel it building up, refocus your thoughts. I like to read something out in my head; you can also try counting in a foreign language, counting backwards or reciting a poem. Some people like to place an elastic band around their wrist and snap it when they feel their anxiety coming on; the physical sensation 'snaps' you out of the anxiety mode.

6. Facing Your Fears

Sometimes, the best option is to face your fears and put yourself into the situation that worries you. By doing so, you will see that it's not as bad as you feared and the worst will not happen. This allows you to feel more comfortable when you're in the same situation in future, and also in other situations as you've proved to yourself you can cope.

7. Diet & Exercise

Finally, paying some attention to your diet can make a difference. If you drink coffee, switch to decaffeinated or give it up; caffeine will make you feel jittery and you don't need that. Cut down on refined and processed foods, and include more wholegrains and fresh produce. Also get some exercise, which boost the levels of serotonin in your brain and increases your overall well-being.

Anxiety is often dismissed by non-sufferers, but it can seriously affect your life. However it is possible to reduce your anxiety levels and learn to manage it. Have you ever confronted your fears and done better than you thought you would?

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Parents make me feel anxious and make it hard to leave which is annoying.

Zoe Suggs book Girl Online has some very good advice about dealing with anxiety. I myself am suffering from anxiety. My anxiety happens at the most random times, but most of the time I know when they'll happen so I steer away from the situation I'm in that's causing it. In Zoe Suggs book the protagonist Penny objectifies her anxiety. She gives it a shape and color. So If she can't breathe, she makes her anxiety a red hand around her throat and she watches that hand (her anxiety) telling the hand it's oak that the hand feels that way and it's okay that the hand is there and as she accepts the hand (her anxiety) she slowly watches it get smaller, and the color fade away and eventually it's gone and so his her anxiety and all that left are the bruises (trying to catch your breath and calm down from the anxiety attack) that eventually will fade away. I hope this will help anyone dealing with anxiety because it has helped me a lot to deal with it and make it easier on myself.

easier said than done

Just starting to feel well after a depression episode and being an anxious made it difficult, but i kept fighting every day, no meds, some therapy, lots of sports, no alcohol, no caffeine! Some days are still difficult but most days i thank god for being good and myself for being a fighter! It does go away so pls keep fighting :)

I have learn pretty well to help myself, and I have Meds.

Sorry " start.."not " wart" !

Anxiety and depression are terrible things to live with. What helps me is when i exercise or being outdoors in the sun instead of being indoors.

My anxiety and depression has no trigger it is just there. I cannot get it to go away and I do not want to take meds. I just sit and suffer tho wondering why and what I can do to help myself. I am hopeless at this point.

You are not hopeless, it is those things telling you are! All of us have a dark side but that does not define who we are! Start with some meditation, try headspace, do whatever it takes knowing that it gets better. Someone told me, do you want other people to feel pity and sorry for u, do u want to reduce yourself to that?! No, i don't, just be patient and try to detach from bad thoughts and feelings. There are many people that go through this and succeed. Also seek help, nothing wrong with that. Keep well!

Mix with as many other people as possible. Sooner than later you will find someone worse off than yourself and then you just wart trying to help and assure them everything will be alright. Hopefully you both get a laugh together and believe me, life does not seem so bad after all.

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