Feeling anxious is something that everyone struggles with at some point. Some people may feel it more than others, but either way, it affects us all. Whether you have an anxiety disorder or just find that you can be a little bit stressed out sometimes, we could all use some calming tactics.
If anxiety and stress are things that you feel you need help with, try these 8 techniques for staying calm and managing anxiety.
1. Take Deep Breaths
When you’re feeling anxious or having a panic attack, deep breathing will help you to calm your nerves quickly. Focus on your breathing, breathe in as deeply as you can, hold it, and then release the breath again in a controlled way. This will help your body realize that it’s safe and doesn’t need to panic.
2. Understand What Things Trigger Your Anxiety
More often than not, people can have something that triggers these negative emotions for them. For some people it could be a smell or sound, for others it could be a certain situation or person. Try and make a connection between the times that you’ve felt anxious to see what your triggers might be. Then, you can try to avoid them as much as possible.
3. Get Enough Rest
It goes without saying that you can’t feel your best when you haven’t had enough sleep. When you’re in a deep sleep, your body and mind repair themselves and help ease stress. Therefore, not getting enough rest will mean that your body hasn’t had enough time to do this which can increase your anxiety levels.
4. Have People Around to Support You
It can be extremely difficult to work through issues like this alone. Having friends and family members that you can go to for support will be of great help to you. If you can, try to have at least one person that you can call whenever you feel like everything is too much to handle.
5. Find an Emotional Outlet
Everyone needs a way that they can express their emotions in a positive way. You could try running or yoga, or something creative like writing or painting. Find whichever outlet works best for you to let your negative feelings out.
6. Avoid Caffeine
It’s no secret that caffeine can cause, or worsen, anxiety. Despite this, people who suffer from it often still choose to drink coffee or other caffeinated drinks. Unfortunately, if you have problems with anxious feelings, it may be time to give up these beverages for good.
7. Exercise Regularly
Exercise has been proven to reduce stress and aid people’s mental health. Not only that, but it’s a great way to release any built-up energy which may be causing you anxiety. Try taking up a sport that you enjoy, going for long walks, joining a gym, or doing yoga. Along with that, remember that experts recommend that everyone should do at least an hour of exercise per day.
8. Accept What You Can’t Control
Some things are just out of your control. That may make a lot of people anxious but coming to terms with it will greatly benefit your mental wellbeing. When something bad happens that you have no power over, try not to focus on all the things that you can’t do and instead think about what you can do.
Dealing with stress, worry, and anxiety can be almost impossible for some people. They can find that these negative emotions rule their lives and destroy everything in the process. Thankfully, with these 8 techniques, you can learn to manage these feelings.
Share this article with your friends and family to help them stay calm during tough times.
