5 ways to cope with Anxiety

A lot of people suffer from anxiety and often times don’t know how to cope with it.  I am one of those people who do suffer from anxiety and too have days where I cannot cope. As someone who is always on the go, my mind races with multiple things going on at the same time. Below is 5 ways to cope with anxiety.

There are days where it’s better than others but then there are those days where I cannot function. This is really tough and I am here to say that you are not alone.  There is at least 40 million people in the United States who suffer from anxiety in some form.

Not to say this isn’t a big deal but it’s more common than you realize and the more you know the better you will be at managing and coping with it. For ways to introduce coping mechanism, check out the 30 day mental health challenge.

What is anxiety?

Anxiety is the feeling of fear and constant worrying. This could be a reaction to stress, which have symptoms such as rapid breathing, nervousness, feeling a sense of danger, sweating, feeling weak, insomnia etc.

Anxiety can take many forms which can be a phobia, panic attack or generalized anxiety disorder. Depending on the symptoms you have this will help you to decide which one you have. Which can also mean that you have more than type of anxiety disorder.

Having anxiety isn’t the end of the world and we all should share any knowledge we have in order to help each other. These are five ways I have found to be effective when coping with anxiety.

Journaling

This is something I like to do. Journaling can be done for any reason and not just for anxiety but I find that when I am anxious, this is the best way to relieve stress. By writing down how you feel it opens you up to being honest with yourself, not only that it enables you to acknowledge how you feel.

When you write down your thoughts you are stating the problem and what you want to achieve. This will give you an insight what the issue is and what you want to do to fix your them. This is the time to be insightful about how you feel and help control your emotions.

I find that when I do this the first thing in the morning, it sets the tone for the day as it enables me to state my problems as well as solutions. But this is also the time to set the tone for the day, and create positive affirmations for yourself. Journaling is about putting all your stress and frustrations on paper, rather than have then bottled up in your mind.

Exercising

This is one of the best recommendations when it comes to coping with anxiety. I tend to find that when I do exercise my mind is at ease after and I can think clearly. This is because exercise helps to release cortisol, which is a stressed induced hormone.  By releasing the hormone it reduces the stress and frustrations you have built up.

This is the time to not only be in tune with your body but also connecting with your mind. Certain exercises are more effective than others but it’s up to you to see what works. For me I like to do HIIT a mixture of aerobic and strength training exercises. I find that this  is a way to program the body in-between intervals.

Other exercises such as pilates and yoga also are helpful when dealing with anxiety.

Form good habits

This one boils down to a routine, in order to cope with anxiety we have to know what triggers it. Identifying your trigger will enable you to understand your anxiety and from there address it. When you are able to address it then you are able to find ways that will deal with it.

This could mean incorporating meditation, journaling and exercise in your daily routine. This is the time to find what works for you and that doesn’t just mean the physical but also the mental. Establish habits that will put your mind in a better space than it was before, take time to be alone do some self reflection within yourself.

Incorporate good eating habits, as certain foods do affect how you feel. Whatever you do make sure to factor in your daily routine such as work, formulate an effective routine that will give the best outcome.

Praying

This works for me and I don’t know what religion or spiritual belief you practice. Take time each day to pray, when you have a relationship with the Lord it opens you up for deliverance. When I face any problem one of the things I like to do is pray, which isn’t always my first resort but it always work.

There is also audible bible scriptures you can listen to that will ease your mind. When you are resting in the presence of the Lord there is nothing better or more rewarding. One of my favorite scriptures from the Bible is Phillipians 4:6-7 ⁶ Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Therapy

Often seen as taboo, if you feel like nothing else works, then I want you to find someone to talk to. Anxiety can be so overbearing and at time can consume so much of your life. Everything can revolve around how you feel that day which can cause you to make impulsive decisions.

Talking to someone shouldn’t be seen as a weakness but instead should be part of your coping mechanism. Often times when we talk to a professional, they are able to help you implement strategies that will help you. Not only that they can point out things that you sometimes aren’t able to see.

This is the time to understand you and your anxiety and what the cause is. Being consistent with this will make your anxiety less debilitating. It’s about finding out what the problem is and addressing it.