Anxiety can be defined as a state of worry and unease that keeps you from living your best life. It can easily sap the joy out of life and replace it with constant fear and paranoia. This can affect your marriage, your relationships, your job, and so much more. Wisdom Within Counseling can provide you coping strategies and tips for dealing with anxiety.
Anxiety can be very debilitating. The best things to do when you have severe anxiety are to find ways to soothe yourself at the moment and to avoid provoking situations and activities.
An example of a provoking situation would be texting and driving. The dangers of texting while driving can be fatal, so you definitely want to avoid doing this and keep your eyes on the road.
There are many activities like texting and driving that you should never do if you have anxiety. Let’s look at some of those activities and resources as well as how to combat this debilitating disorder.
#1 – Don’t Stew in Your Emotions
The first of our tips for dealing with anxiety is to never stew in your emotions. Doing so can cause you to go into a downward spiral that is extremely difficult to get out of. The best way to get out of the spiral is to talk to someone, journal, or do a physical activity. Doing yoga is a great physical activity to do.
Another way to stop stewing is to use art or music to help you move forward. Art and music are both excellent tools for processing emotions. Doing both at the same time could even help more than just doing one over the other. Listen to music while you paint or draw. Your creations don’t have to be perfect. Just use your creativity and imagination unabashedly.
Feeling your emotions is not a bad thing — don’t get me wrong, but it’s not healthy to stay in them for hours on end. If you find it is difficult to move on from what you’re feeling, it may be beneficial for you to seek professional help.
#2 – Don’t Avoid Seeking Professional Help
There’s nothing wrong with asking for help. Don’t be ashamed because it’s difficult for you to deal with your anxiety. Therapy in all its forms is something everyone should go through at least once in their lifetime.
There are a lot of opportunities to get the help you need, even in small states like Connecticut. There’s anxiety counseling in East Lyme, marriage counseling in Mystic, and counseling in the southeast of the state. We can provide strategies and tips for dealing with anxiety.
Anxiety therapy is perfect because it teaches you how to have emotional confidence and how to deal with panic attacks. This disorder can be so immobilizing. It’s such a wonderful thing to know there are therapies out there specifically designed to help fight against it.
#3 – Don’t Smoke Marijuana or Cigarettes
Both marijuana and cigarettes have been known to increase anxiety when they are inhaled. They both give short-term pleasure, but in the end, they may only add to your troubles.
Studies have shown that nicotine can not only increase anxiety, but it can also cause it. If you weren’t an anxious person before smoking and now you are afterward, it could be because of the cigarette.
Marijuana increases heart rate, which can cause panic attacks or even heart attacks. It can also increase anxiety because of the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Ingesting cannabinol (CBD) is found to be okay.
They may feel good at the moment, but you may want to avoid marijuana and cigarettes when dealing with anxiety.
#4 – Don’t Make Rash Decisions
This may seem obvious, but it’s difficult for some to remember in the midst of anxiousness. It can feel like a storm is raging inside of you when you’re in the thick of it.
The best thing to do is give yourself at least 24 hours before making a big decision. Reach out to someone you trust or your therapist and have them talk you through your feelings.
Now is a good time to batten down the hatches and listen to something soothing. You could even take a walk while you listen to music. Just don’t make any big decisions while you’re in this state of mind. You may regret it later.
#5 – Don’t Risk Your Safety (No Self-Harm)
Not everyone who has anxiety struggles with self-harm or taking risks, but it’s good to address all the same. Self-harm comes in many different forms. There’s cutting, punching, banging your head on the wall, burning yourself with cigarette butts, and anything else considered to be inflicting pain on yourself.
Self-harm is an unhealthy coping mechanism for dealing with anxiety. If you struggle with self-harm, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a very helpful therapy for some people. You should consider trying it to see if it works for you. There are many therapists in Connecticut who specialize in this. There is hope. Don’t be afraid to reach out and seek treatment.
Anxiety can wreak havoc on your life if you let it. Some days will be harder than others, but remember you’re not alone. Self-harm is never the answer for dealing with anxiety. If you feel like you’re a danger to yourself or others, please call a crisis hotline.
#6 – Don’t Judge Yourself
Being kind to yourself after having a panic attack or for being anxious is so healthy. It’s hard to do, but totally worth trying. It’s not your fault you have this disorder. You shouldn’t beat yourself up for being anxious. You wouldn’t judge someone else who dealt with anxiety, so don’t do that to yourself. You are doing your best and that’s all that matters.
To review, here’s your list of tips for dealing with anxiety:
- Don’t text and drive
- Don’t stew in your emotions
- Don’t avoid seeking professional help
- Don’t smoke marijuana or cigarettes
- Don’t make rash decisions
- Don’t self-harm
- Don’t judge yourself
Having anxiety or any mental disorder can be challenging, but always remember there is hope. Be kind and compassionate with yourself and others you know who are dealing with them. You can do this. You can overcome your anxiety. Just make sure to take each day one step at a time.
Peyton Leonard writes and researches for the insurance comparison site, Clearsurance.com. Peyton is passionate about mental health and wellness and is an advocate for those who deal with mental illnesses.
