And luckily for us, conquering this kind of stress is well within our reach.
What is anxiety?
Simply put, anxiety is your body’s response todangerous or unfamiliar situations.
David Ezell, clinical director ofDarien Wellnessin Connecticut, told me anxiety often looks different from person to person.
As a result, they don’t understand how profoundly anxious they [really] are."
Where day-to-day anxiety differs from anxiety disorders, is in the length and intensity of such symptoms.
For example, anxiety disorders often include feelings of near-constant panic and fears that are difficult to control.
“It feels counterintuitive, but going into your body and feeling it can help the anxiety shrink.”
Anxiety is not your fault.
There is nothing inherently wrong with who you are."
Set a consistent sleep schedule that aims for seven to nine hours of sleep each night.
If you continue struggling to feel rested during the day, consider undergoing asleep studyto identify other potential causes.
“Whenyou eat is also important.
“[These] behavioral changes can help sufferers manage anxiety more effectively.”
Talk with your doctor.
For those living with anxiety disorders, exercise may not be a substitute for proper medical treatment.
“What people do not realize is that this quick-fix method actually makes things worse in the long term.
Practice mindfulness
When you’re feeling anxious, it’s easy to let your thoughts run wild.
Mindfulness meditation has been proven to do just that.
Write it down
Remember those racing thoughts we talked about earlier?
James Pennebaker, professor of psychology at the University of Texas at Austin,toldU.S.
Pennebaker recommends starting with just 15 minutes a day, during whichyou should writewithout worrying about grammar or punctuation.
“Ultimately, what you do with your expressive writing is entirely up to you,” Pennebaker said.
Getting your giggle on requires very little work on your part.
Breathe
One thing that actually fuels anxiety is your breath, according to Ezell.
“Breathing is the single cue to the body that something is wrong,” Ezell told me.
Licensed therapistJohn Mathewsshared some tips on breathing correctly for anxiety relief.
“Try this: put your hand over your stomach so your palm rests over your belly button.
When you’re doing this right, you shouldn’t feel any movement in your shoulders or chest.
Just a few breaths at a time can be enough to really feel yourself calm down.
To get the care you need, contact your primary care provider or amental health professionalto discuss treatment options.
