Although stress is something we deal with every day, it should not control your life. Stress can make anxiety worse, especially if ignored. Anxiety can lead to unhealthy strain on the body and possibly, disease. Keep reading to find out how anxiety can hurt you and some ways you can deal with it.
Proper breathing is essential to reducing sudden feelings of anxiety. Using a count to control your breathing can be an effective way to reduce anxious feelings. Pick a count, such as 3 in, and 3 out. Repeat this pattern, until the feelings of anxiety have resolved, and passed.
Anxiety can disrupt your breathing patterns and learning breathing exercises will help you maintain control. Count to yourself as you breathe to relax. For the best results, choose a quiet area to do controlled breathing.
If anxiety has taken over your life, get professional help. Nobody should have to suffer silently through the fear, or be forced to live a limited life due to anxiety. There is help available, so talk to a professional, or look online for a forum where you can discuss common issues with others. Doing nothing is condemning yourself to a miserable existence.
Try to exercise every day if you are having trouble with anxiety. When you get rid of all of your extra energy then you make your mind a little more tired. This is great if you have trouble sleeping because of your anxiety. During exercise you will also notice that you aren't thinking about much, so that helps with anxious thoughts as well.
If external things are triggering you, then you shouldn't watch TV or read the paper as much. While it's good to stay current on world events, you don't need to constantly consume negative reports on everything from wars to natural disasters.
When you wake up in the morning you should take the time to say several positive affirmations aloud to yourself. Vocalize how you want your day to be and the specific goals you have for accomplishing that day. Then, put 100% of your energy into making sure you have that kind of positive and productive day.
Consider your diet when dealing with anxiety. A diet that is high is sugar and unrefined carbohydrates can contribute to feelings of anxiety. It takes place because when you eat sugary foods, your blood sugar raises first. Then, you experience a blood sugar drop that can leave you feeling weak, anxious and craving more sugar, which only exacerbates the problem.
Learn to exaggerate your fears. This may sound crazy, but it has been proven to work. If you are afraid you will trip when walking down the stairs at an event, imagine yourself not only tripping, but rolling all the way down the staircase and taking other people down with you. Make it a funny, extreme mental picture, and you will feel your anxiety melt away quickly.
As you can see, anxiety is something that can be relieved but not eliminated completely. There's no way to remove it from your life entirely, but it can be managed. If you practice the advice in this guide, you will be able to equip yourself of ways to reduce anxiety and stress effectively.