Feeling Stressed or Anxious? Here's How You Can Beat It!
Stress and anxiety are prevalent in today's age, but the overwhelming feelings created, need not dominate and wreak havoc on your life. Overcoming stress is more straightforward than you think. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) have come up with a list of successful coping mechanisms for making depression, stress, and anxiety mere inconveniences. Try a combination of the following strategies.
While they may seem like an easy, instant fix, they can actually aggravate your anxiety or stress levels, and possibly trigger panic attacks. This does not mean that you need to cut the two out altogether. Rather, limit your daily intake to reduce unwanted stress and aggravation.
A lack of sleep will have a negative affect even when you are in the best of health, but it is even worse when you're stressed and anxious. In fact, you need more rest and sleep when you’re stressed so make sure not to cut back on shuteye.
Avoid panicking by focusing on your breath. Inhale and exhale slowly. This is an instant relief to an overwhelming feeling.
When you’re stressed and anxious you might want to turn to processed snack foods for an instant boost. Alternatively, you may be too anxious to eat and might opt to skip meals. But, for health reasons, it’s important not to do this. Eat whole meals with healthy balanced food choices and keep energy-boosting healthy snacks at hand too.
A lot of the time we’re too focused on perfect goals that are hard to achieve, increasing our stress levels. Instead, reset the goal posts, try your best, and be proud of your redefined success.
8. Count to 10
Breathing deeply, counting to 10,
or even 20 can be an instant relief. It sounds childish but counting
forces you to focus on your breath, and the numbers can briefly distract
your rushed or anxious mind.
9. Perspective
Accept that you are not God and
cannot control everything. It’s important to put your stress into
perspective. Consider some other times where you felt stressed and weigh
up how relative it is. Have you or others you know had it worse before?
10. Positive Attitude Required
When facing adversity, stress, or
anxiety it’s vital to maintain a positive attitude. Not everyone is a
natural optimist, but choosing to focus on the positives can help drive
away, or at least replace, negative thoughts, enabling you to get on
with the task at hand.
11. Talk it Out
12. Get Involved
Getting actively involved with your
community allows you to have a break from everyday stress and lend your
skills to a worthy cause. It can also help you create a support network
of friends.
13. Pinpoint Triggers
Becoming aware of anxiety triggers
can really help you figure out the best way to cope and decide if it can
be avoided. It might be work, family, a place or person. Write down the
times you feel stressed and see if you can identify a pattern.
14. Laughter is the Best Medicine
Another way to keep your anxiety at
bay is with a healthy dose of laughter. Welcome humor into your life in
whichever way you can.