Strategies For Helping You Cope With Anxiety

Anxiety is a real condition that, unfortunately, a lot of people suffer from on a daily basis. You may wake up one day only to realize you don’t feel as well as you once did, however, usually anxiety is a slow decline in mental health. There are, though, ways to live with or tackle your anxiety – be it through medication, exercise, therapy or healthy eating.

Before you start the journey to better mental health, it is important to know that there is no quick fix. It is a long, arduous trail to a healthier, happier mind, but it is worth it in the end. Anxiety can impact us in many different ways: through work, our everyday life and our social interactions. What’s more, anxiety and depression go hand-in-hand. 

Here are some of the best strategies to help people cope with anxiety.

Get Enough Sleep

Sleep is a critical component for helping you to cope with your anxiety. You’ll not only feel well-rested and prepared to tackle each day, but it’s also a way for your mind and body to recover and rest. Sleep makes for a healthier mind, so head to bed earlier than usual, unwind, and wake up the same time each and every morning.
Enough sleep means not having to rely on caffeine, which can hurt your health and anxiety levels. Of course, you do not have to eliminate all caffeine, but a deduction can help. 

If you’re having trouble getting the proper amount of sleep due to your anxiety, then you might want to go online to read more about a solution that will help you overcome your struggles with achieving enough rest.

Work with a Professional Therapist 

One practical way to help you cope with your anxiety is to open up to and work with a professional therapist. These experts have a lot of experience assisting patients to overcome constant worry and can likely help you too. 

Remember to be honest about your feelings and what you’re going through so that together, you and your therapist can try to come up with ways for how you can keep it in check. The act of facing your anxiety head-on will be a promising step in the right direction for allowing you to better cope with it. Finding someone who you like and trust will increase your chances that this strategy will work out well for you.

Fit in Daily Exercise

A proven approach that will help you cope with your anxiety is to fit in daily exercise. Join a gym near your workplace so you have no excuse as to why you can’t commit to a sweat session regularly. Be sure to mix up your routine so you don’t get bored by taking a class one day, lifting weights another and walking or running on the treadmill the next. 

Your anxiety may cause you to second guess yourself or find ways to skip exercise. What you can do to combat your emotions is to either find a workout buddy or hire a trainer who can hold you accountable for staying on track. Discuss your goals with this person so they know what results you’re seeking and can assist you properly throughout your journey. This may be the extra push you need to overcome your fears or excuses and to truly make changes that are going to improve your life and health. 

Monitor Your Diet

It’s not only about how much exercise you get but also what you’re eating as fuel each day. Your diet has a lot to do with your mood and you being able to get your anxiety under control or not, so never underestimate the power of food. 

Commit to grocery shopping and cooking for yourself at home and monitoring your portion sizes. You’ll want to make sure you have all the natural energy available to you that you can get so you can cope with your anxiety naturally. Consuming a lot of junk food, caffeine and added sugar will make it more difficult for you to reduce the amount of anxiety you’re feeling and can heighten it over the long-term.  

Create a Work-Life Balance

An additional strategy for helping you cope with anxiety is to create more work-life balance. Working too much or having a lot of extra time on your hands may be contributing to you feeling worried about your current situation. Try to find a happy medium where you're productive during work hours and then can turn it off and attend to your own needs and self-care. It’s a mix of being able to make a living for yourself and also not lose sight of your health while you’re at it.

Sexual Healing

Sexual activity isn't a “cure” for anxiety, but according to Talkspace.com, the feel-good hormones and chemicals that are released during sex can temporarily reduce symptoms of the mental health challenges anxiety presents. These pleasure-inducing hormones and neurotransmitters include dopamine, endorphins, and oxytocin (the "cuddle" hormone) which can boost mood, increase compassion, and help you bond with your partner. An unusual approach to anxiety treatment perhaps, but everything you can do is a help.

Slow Down & Breathe

Unfortunately, the reality is that the quicker you go through life and more worked up you make yourself the higher levels of anxiety you’re likely to experience. It’s in your best interest to slow down and take one moment and day at a time. Focus on your breath and engage in deep breathing exercises to help calm your mind and body down when you’re feeling overwhelmed. This will also allow you to think clearly, so you can try to pinpoint and figure out what it is that’s exactly bothering you the most. Use meditation as a way to help you stay in the moment so that you’re less worried about what’s already happened in the past or what’s yet to occur in the future. 

Anxiety is not easy to combat. It can take time and a lot of help and resources. However, remember that in the long run, it is worth it. No anxiety is one and the same, so find what works best for you and your anxiety. For instance, if you suffer from both depression and anxiety, you may be given an MAOI or SSRI. Plus, if medication doesn’t work for you, there are still many other avenues for you to take – therapy, exercise, etc. It could even be your environment. Contact you doctor so that they can help you and start your treatment right away.
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