Have you ever felt your heart beating faster due to stress or your palms becoming excessively sweaty when you get confronted with an overwhelming situation? That’s anxiety, and it’s a human’s natural response to stress. But, though it’s ‘natural,’ sometimes it can go out of hand, leading to worse conditions, such as depression.
Anxiety can get ‘triggered’ by several things, and though it’s different for everyone, there are a few common ones. These include tackling the first day of your new job, giving a presentation in front of many people, or having professional video production services film you and your team for an AVP.
Identifying your triggers takes time and self-reflection. In the meantime, there are several things you can do to help yourself when you become too anxious. Here are some of them.
Breathe Slowly
When a person becomes anxious, their breathing often becomes sporadic, making them feel more anxious, making it a vicious cycle to deal with. That’s why when you start feeling anxious, begin focusing on your breath and start slowing it down. You can do this by breathing from your belly by directing your breathing downward, filling up your stomach, and letting it fall again. Repeat this cycle at least three times until you feel yourself beginning to calm down.
Remind Yourself of Reality
When dealing with anxiety attacks, remember that you’re okay and that it’ll pass. Tell yourself that what you’re feeling is temporary and that it will be okay and that you’re going to die from this. Fighting the way you feel when you get anxious can generate more anxiety, so make sure to succumb to it and remind yourself it won’t last forever.
Stay Away from Caffeine and Sugar
Although it may be tempting to indulge in sweet treats when you’re feeling stressed, that slice of cake or chocolate bar can make everything worse. Research has proven countless times that consuming too much sugar can trigger anxiety more, worsening your feelings of anxiousness. So, instead of getting a sweet treat, drink a whole glass of water and eat a protein-rich snack like almonds and yogurt, providing slower energy that your body can fully use to recover.
Additionally, it’s best to stay away from caffeine, too, as drinking or anything with caffeine can make your anxiety worse, triggering anxiety or panic attacks.
Take Care of Yourself
To condition your mind and body to become peaceful and strong enough to handle your anxiety, get the right amount of sleep (seven to eight hours), eat correctly by choosing vegetables, lean protein, and whole grains for lasting energy, and exercise regularly to stay fit. Doing all of these can help distract you from your anxiety and mold yourself to handle it better.
Connect with Others
Spend time with your loved ones, whether it’s friends or family. You can go on organized trips and meetups, but casually hanging out can work out too. Doing things with those close to you not only deepens your bond with them but also makes you feel supported and secure. If you start to feel anxious, talk about it with someone you trust and genuinely care about you, helping you feel more understood and cope better.
It can be a good reminder to you that everyone gets anxious and you’re never alone.
If you suffer from anxiety, then you’re likely all too familiar with that uncomfortable feeling when your heart races and the general sense of wanting to escape or end everything. Fortunately, you don’t have to force yourself to deal with these with the help of the tips mentioned, helping you cope with it and heal along the way.
