As someone who has suffered through anxiety, I know how hard it is to cope with it. Sometimes it can be hard to find ways to help with anxiety and it can feel really overwhelming. So today I am going to give you some strategies to help you.
- Deep breaths. This is probably one you have heard of a million times, but is very effective. Close your eyes and just focus on the breathing and within a few breaths you will feel more calm. I inhale for four, hold for four, and exhale for six.
- Journaling. Journaling helps you sort out all of your thoughts. If you don’t feel comfortable telling your fears to a person, writing them down is really helpful and is like talking to someone, without actually having to.
- Try to face your fears. This can be really hard sometimes. However, Sometimes what you are worried about isn’t as bad as you may think it is. One time I faced my fears was when I auditioned for my school play. It was terrifying (for me) to act in front of all the other kids, but I just took a deep breath and started, and once I began my fear just evaporated.
- Talk to someone about it. This is one of my big ones. Anxiety is really hard to go through alone. Telling someone about your fears is a great way to cope. It also helps by showing you that you are not going through it alone. As they say, It takes a village to raise a child. However I also think it takes a village to carry you through life. So find your tribe!
- Identify triggers. This was a part of my three point action plan as kid governor. It helps to identify triggers because you treat anxiety differently based on what you are anxious about. Something that is very effective on one thing might not be as effective on another thing.
- Yoga. Personally, yoga builds a sense of calm and peace in my body. It increases body awareness. Yoga is really helpful with anxiety and it is also a form of exercise. Exercise is also a great way to help with anxiety. I personally enjoy swimming for exercise. It makes me calm, and as a bonus it makes me stronger. Biking is also one of my favorite forms of exercise. The fresh air on my face and the wind in my hair really helps me take my mind off my worries.
- Building a routine. Building a routine helps with creating a sense of normalcy in your life. It makes your life feel more predictable, and this gives you a sense of control.
- Sleep. A good sleep improves your brain performance, mood and health. When you sleep your body is relaxing and letting loose. Consistency of sleep is important. So that means that if one day you sleep at 10, the next day you should also sleep at 10, and so on. When we sleep we leave the cares of the world behind and relax. I sleep at 9 every day and I notice that in the morning I feel more awake and energetic.
- Doing things with my hands. I fidget a lot and it helps to just move my hands. When my anxiety comes I do everything from playing with slime to knitting to crocheting.
- Baking. I love baking. It’s just very satisfying for me to mix all the ingredients and watch whatever I am making come together. I have a giant sweet tooth and it’s only natural that I love to make sweet stuff too.
- Reading. People seem shocked when I say I like to read but it is a very effective coping strategy for me. It’s the perfect way to escape reality and forget your worries. With reading you can go wherever you want to whenever you want to.
These are some of many ways to help your mental health. There are a lot more ways that may help you better. I hope that in the future you can use these to help you or a friend!