Tips for Dealing with Anxiety

I'm going to talk about something I may not have mentioned before here. I have problems with anxiety. I've never been officially diagnosed with anything and mine is pretty mild, but I know I have it. And it can be a problem for me.

It all started a year or so ago, for no reason at all. Over time I've learned to deal with it and not let it control my life, but it's still hard sometimes. Places like a movie theater or doing something new can cause it to spike, or it can act up without cause. So today I thought I'd share some of my tips for dealing with it. None of these should be taken as professional advice (which should be obvious, but I thought I'd say it) and what works for me might not work for you. But I hope this might help someone else out there.

Deep belly breaths

Sometimes when we get anxious, we get short of breath or panicky. What you need to do is shut your eyes and take some deep breaths like you would for yoga. (Here's a link if you don't know how.) Envision that you're breathing in a good emotion and breathing out anxiety and stress. Doing this for just a few minutes can really help calm you down.

Mind tricks

Anxiety is basically all in your head, so controlling your thoughts can really help. Of course, that's super difficult, but you can give it a go. One trick is to image yourself somewhere calm and peaceful, allowing your thoughts to drift away like clouds. Another is to bring yourself back into the moment by shutting your eyes and focusing on what you can hear and smell or what you're doing. There are lots of these things out there, so do some research for more ideas.

Essential oils

I have a special vial of essential oils in a rollerball (which means it rolls on like perfume) that I carry with me everywhere. His name is Frankenroller and he is my best friend. It's a mix of frankincense and lavender essential oils and excellent for any time I'm feeling anxious. I know not everyone like essential oils, but give it a try. You can even find anxiety oils on the internet (but be careful of the source. Some oils are less good than others).

You can also try diffusing a calming blend at home before going places that make you anxious, or if you think you might be anxious. You can even get in the car diffusers for when you're on the road if you want.

Talk to someone

When you keep worrying inside your own head, it only makes the anxiety worse. Find someone you trust and learn to talk to them about how you feel when you're anxious. They can help you calm down and see that the problem isn't as big or bad as you think it is. They can also check on you and make sure you don't let it overwhelm you either.

Do yoga

Yoga is an excellent way to calm and relax yourself, whether you're feel anxious or not. But it is especially good for that. It can help you slow down, calm your breathing, and focus you all at once. I want to do a whole post on the benefits of yoga, but for now, take my word. There are even special anxiety practices out there.

Chew gum

I know, it's a weird tip, but it works. Chewing peppermint gum always helps calm me down within minutes of starting. I don't know why this is, but give it a try next time you're anxious. I keep a pack with me at all times for just this purpose.

Do something you love

Read. Watch a movie. Exercise. Doodle. Stretch. Play your favorite music. Sometimes just doing little things like that can lower your anxiety levels by a lot. Every time it wants to pop up again, acknowledge it and then set it aside again.

Sleep

The less sleep you get, the more likely your anxiety is to rise and attack you. So make sure to get plenty of sleep every night, and maybe even take a nap during the day. Use white noise or music to help you sleep, and try wearing an eye mask if you have problems with getting distracted. Turn your phone and laptop off half an hour before bed and read a book instead.

Educate yourself

Not knowing about something can make it even scarier. And with anxiety, that can just increase it. Instead, try reading about it a little, taking time to learn about it and finding new tips to deal. You'd be surprised how many people out there actually understand you and you can feel much more encouraged with just a little research.

I know all these tips make me sound like some sort of anxiety expert, but believe me, I'm not. Everyone is different and I still feel anxiety a lot. But we can all learn to control it to a point, and remember that there is always someone there for us.

Do you suffer with anxiety? What anxiety tips do you have? Tell me in the comments.

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