Anxiety; it feels chaotic. That feeling when you are running really fast and you are about to fall, but forever; that’s what anxiety feels like. The feeling when you are leaning back on your chair and you loose balance, but for an endless time; thats what anxiety feels like.
It’s not just infinite spirals of thoughts running in one’s mind. Those spirals interfere in one’s personal life as well and their relationships.
Dealing with anxiety myself, I know it feels impossible to get out of such tangled threads of the mind but small steps can bring a great change in the long run. And it DOES get better, I can promise you that.
Here are some of the things which help me coping up with anxiety.
1. Write things down.
Whenever I feel anxious, I take a notebook and draw a huge circle in the centre of the
page. I run my pen over its boundary repeatedly and then pen down all the random words and feelings that come rushing in my mind. It helps me vent out without feeling judged.
Sometimes, I also like to write letters (not meant to be sent) to people who might be the reason for my anxiety and I pour my heart out.
2. Exercise
Engaging in any form of exercise helps you get distracted from the very thing you are
anxious about. It decreases muscle tension and also helps you in practising a better
control on your thoughts. Moreover, it increases your heart rate which changes brain chemistry and further increases the availability of anti-anxiety neurochemicals (eg. Serotonin, gamma aminobutyric acid). You can start with “in bed workouts” or the ten minute workouts you can find everywhere on YouTube. They are engaging, easy to do and fun. I don’t suggest Chloe Ting though.
3. Check your diet
This is one of the most important things to keep in mind. Initially, I started skipping a lot of meals and I could see my anxiety worsen day by day to a point that it became so evident on my face. Skipping meals may also lead to a drop in your sugar level which causes you to feel jittery, and worsens your anxiety. Avoid caffeine! Reduce the amount of carbohydrates you take in your meals and include whole grains. Lastly, increase your water intake. Water has a calming effect on the body and makes you feel more energetic and vibrant.
4. Art
Personally, this one’s my favourite. Whenever I get a speedy rush of anxiety, I lock my room, I put on my favourite playlist, stand in front of the mirror and I sing at the top of my voice. It relaxes me and brings me comfort. Sometimes, I simply make playlists based on themes or a feeling. Indulging yourself in any from of art is a healthy way to cope up with your anxiety and express your feelings in a better way. It’s music for me, it can be anything for you.
5. Appreciate yourself
Most of the times we are anxious about the future and what it holds for us. Further, we
think of ourselves as being incapable of handling problems well in the future. So, take some time out and appreciate yourself. I started with writing five things I love about myself every alternate day. It doesn’t have to be something deep or important. It can be the smallest thing about you. It wasn’t noticeable at first but it gradually helped me become confident in myself and made me believe that I am capable of finding solutions to
all the problems that come my way. Affirmations have helped me too. Pick any one affirmation which makes you feel powerful, truly believe in it and just say it every morning in front of the mirror. Again, it isn’t noticeable at first but it helps in the long run.
6. Seek help
Seeking help is one of the best things you can do to cope up with anxiety. It is something to be proud of because seeking helps implies that you are self aware, you are strong enough to work on yourself and you truly care about yourself and the people around you.
7. Find a comfort friend
Talking to a friend who understands you and supports you is one of the best ways to get instant relief from anxiety. A true friend usually helps you look at the brighter side when your mind in under the negative whirlpool of thoughts. Finding a comfort movie or a show or a character also helps in terms of temporary relief, which is sometimes all you need.
8. Be Consistent
Anxiety is something which takes time to deal with and you must be consistent with your efforts even if you don’t see significant changes. Know that its going to get better and don’t discourage yourself! You should know that you are strong for you are dealing with something tough and you have the power to get through it.
- Prisha Sood
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