CALMING WAYS TO RELIEVE ANXIETY
Anxiety is at its core the manifestation of our ugliest thoughts and feelings. It presents itself in many different ways, including catastrophizing, trouble with breathing, and sweating. Anxiety can be a massive barrier for anything,, even everyday tasks. Here are some ways that you can help manage your anxiety.
1) Ask for Help- Part of the reason that anxiety can be so crippling to us is because we feel overwhelmed by external circumstances. However, we do not have to face these circumstances alone. By being brave enough to ask for help, we give ourselves relief from the burden of taking things on alone, even if help is just talking about our anxious thoughts.
2) Seek the Positive- While it feels cliche to say things like “There’s always a silver lining”, there is in fact a silver lining in most cases when it comes to anxiety. Completing tasks making us anxious is the most productive way to seek the positive. However, even surrounding ourselves with positive people is a great way to actively seek the positive and reduce anxious thoughts.
3) Know that this is only temporary- Is this advice that anybody wants to hear? No, no it is not. However, think about a time when you experienced anxiety even six months ago. Can you remember what you were anxious about or do you specifically remember the way it manifested? How about a year ago? On episode eight of our podcast, (which is linked below!) we gave advice to our former selves and discussed some of the anxieties we faced stemming from events that we have already overcome. While it may seem pressing and life-altering in the moment, most of the time it does not have life-altering ramifications.
4) Take QUALITY breaks- When anxiety strikes, sometimes the best thing to do is not to power through it.Rather, the best thing to do is to take a break. This said, taking a break DOES NOT MEAN PROCRASTINATING! Many of us (me included) have a habit of turning to procrastination when anxiety gets bad, going on our phones for hours at a time or completely neglecting our responsibilities. A quality break can be reading a book for 10 minutes, taking a 15 minute nap, even watching a TV show for 20 minutes. When you are taking your breaks, give your mind a rest for a short period of time, then get ready to take care of what is making you anxious.
5) Set Boundaries- When anxiety overwhelms us, it is important that we give ourselves the ability to set boundaries, specifically saying no. There is nothing worse than having a full plate and then having more food dumped onto it. Prioritize yourself and say no to others who try to dump more responsibility on you when you are overwhelmed. You will not be able to give them or yourself your all, and your anxiety will only progress.
Anxiety can manifest in ugly ways, both physically and mentally, so it is important to have both some precautionary measures as well as coping strategies to implement in order to prevent and stop anxiety. The holidays can be overwhelming, so give yourself the break you need to take care of this anxiety! Keep the vibes valid, and have a very happy and healthy holiday!