7 Ways To Help Ease Anxiety

Ugh, anxiety. Where to even begin with anxiety? If any of you out there are like me and struggle with anxiety, I feel for you. When I say anxiety I don't mean that I stress over things that are actually worth stressing about. If you have anxiety then you know that you stress over everything and anything, especially things that are NOT worth stressing about. If you have anxiety then you know what it feels like to wake up randomly and feel like the whole world is caving in for absolutely no reason at all.  But we can't help it, I know that. 

I know that anxiety can feel different for everyone, and this is actually my first time ever writing about my own. I hope some of you can benefit from this and know that you're not alone. I know what it feels like to have knots in your stomach, or feel like you have bricks on your chest and not be able to make it go away. The anxiety can make you feel irritated, like you cannot get yourself together, or like nothing feels safe. I know. 

This is undoubtedly a struggle that will last a lifetime but that does not mean that we cannot find ways to manage or help control these irrational feelings. I'm definitely still figuring out what works best for me, my body and my mind but here are a few things that I've found work well for myself:

1.Try Tea Instead of Coffee

I am a coffee addict so this pains me more than you know, but I've found I have to skip out on coffee in order to feel better. It must be something about the amount of caffeine in it, but it increases my heart rate and can trigger feelings of anxiety. So I've found that tea is a great replacement. Tea does still have some caffeine but it's more subtle on the body.

2. Exercise

Whether you prefer pilates, yoga, lifting weights or going for a run, I am a huge proponent of exercising when you feel anxious. Some people tell me that it makes them feel worse because of the raised heart rate but for others like myself, this is a nice fix. Whatever form of physical activity you choose, it's keeping your mind and body busy so it leaves less room for you to focus on the anxieties. Plus, it's awesome for your physical health.

3.Meditate 

If you're looking for something more slow and steady, I suggest meditation. You can do this anywhere you're comfortable and for as short or long as you like, which makes it convenient. Sometimes you just need a few minutes in the morning or a break in the day to clear your head and make yourself comfortable again. This can help.

4. Make Healthier Eating Choices

For some reason eating a lot of junk or sweet food can make things worse for myself. I'm honestly not too sure what the reason is behind this but I've noticed that if I eat healthier or avoid going too crazy on the sweets, I feel much more at ease, mentally. This may just be a personal thing but could be interesting to take note of if you were curious.

5. Avoid Alcohol

Everyone's body is different so therefore, will be affected differently but alcohol has been proven to make anxiety worse as stated by the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA). We may initially think that it could calm us but it can often have the reverse effect and end up heightening feelings of anxiety.

6. Get A Good Night Sleep

The less sleep I have, the less productive of a day I'll have and this correlates to my anxiety as well. The less sleep I have, the more anxiety I will have. I've found that I need a solid 8 hours in order to feel at my best, mentally.

7. Talking To Someone

Whether you feel most comfortable talking to a professional health clinician, family member, friend or loved one it is so important to keep addressing your anxiety. The more you can talk about your struggle, the better you can become at actively identifying and monitoring yourself for what works and what doesn't. It also helps to talk to someone because it reassures us we have a support system, and that we have a safe place to talk about what's going on.