Anxiety is abstract, but it’s much more than just a word. It’s a real feeling of dread and worry that can take over your entire life, getting in the way of everything that used to make you feel happy and excited. It’s a complex beast to confront, but there are things you can do to keep it under control. Read on to learn of some ways you can properly cope with your anxiety.
Understand Your Anxiety
The first step to properly managing your anxiety is to understand the source of your stress in the first place. There are many causes of anxiety, as no one person is the same, but some common themes rise up in anxiety diagnoses. For example, anxiety can run in families and contribute to the disorder in younger generations. In others, there is an overwhelming amount of ongoing stress that can hurt daily. Some also go through traumatic experiences that kickstart their anxiety or have an underlying anxiety disorder.
Stay Active
For many, staying active is hard to do. Standing up from their chair and going to the gym or on a walk is a significant ordeal for those dealing with anxiety, but it’s often the thing they need most. Exercise can significantly reduce stress and boost endorphin production in the brain. However, you shouldn’t exercise once and think you have found a cure; part of what makes physical activity so therapeutic is its habitual nature. Not having to think about what you’re doing but just doing it can do wonders for the brain.
Limit Substance Use
Many people turn to substances such as recreational drugs, alcohol, caffeine, or even food when they feel anxious. In the short term, they can feel like mood stabilizers that keep your anxiety at bay, but in reality, they make the anxiety you experience every day much worse. In addition to worsening anxiety, the use of these substances as a coping mechanism isn’t healthy and leads to even worse issues down the line.
Properly coping with your anxiety will take a lot of effort on your part, but at the end of the day, you’ll be thankful that you’re working to keep your anxiety under control. Without some proper coping mechanisms and effort on your part, your anxiety can take over your life. Take these tips to heart and take control of your anxiety.
