Studies show that about 20% of Americans deal with some kind of anxiety disorder on a regular basis. It’s considered the most prevalent mental health condition among the general population.
If you or someone you love deals with regular anxiety attacks, it’s important to find ways to reduce the intensity of these attacks and live a more normal life.
While there is no one-size-fits-all solution for living with anxiety, there are some basic tips that can help make managing anxiety easier:
Understand Your Anxiety
One of the most important things you can do is to learn as much as you can about anxiety. What are the symptoms? What causes it? What makes it better or worse? The more you know, the more in control you will feel.
Also, understand and accept that it is a part of who you are. It is not something that you can simply “get over” or ignore. Once you accept that anxiety is a part of your life, it will be much easier to manage.
Create a Plan
A big part of coping with anxiety is being prepared for when anxious thoughts and feelings strike. Having a plan in place ahead of time can help you feel more in control and less likely to be caught off guard by anxiety.
A plan for easing anxiety should involve both short-term and long-term goals. Short-term goals might include things like learning relaxation techniques or avoiding stressful situations. Long-term goals might include working on underlying issues that contribute to anxiety, such as low self-esteem or negative thinking patterns.
Challenge Your Anxiety
Anxiety loves nothing more than to keep you safe and sound in your comfort zone. But if you never challenge your anxiety, it will only get worse. Slowly and surely start pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone.
Challenge yourself to do things that make you anxious. Gradually you’ll start feeling comfortable in situations that make you anxious.
Breathing Exercises
When you’re feeling anxious, your breathing becomes shallow and rapid. This can make your anxiety even worse.
Breathing exercises like yoga and meditation are a great way to help you feel more relaxed and ease the feelings of anxiety. They work by helping you focus on your breath and slow down your breathing rate. This can help calm your nervous system and reduce the feeling of anxiety.
Seek Professional Help
If you are struggling to cope with anxiety, it is important to seek professional help. There are many treatments available that can ease anxiety and help you to manage your symptoms. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is one type of treatment that can be very effective in treating anxiety. CBT helps you to understand and change the thoughts and behaviors that contribute to your anxiety.
Medication may also be prescribed if CBT alone does not provide sufficient relief from symptoms. If you are struggling with anxiety, seek professional help so that you can get the treatment and support you need to recover.
You can also apply for Disability Benefits here.
Living with Anxiety is Manageable
It is important to remember that you are not alone. There are millions of people living with anxiety disorders, and you can find support in many different places. Talk to your friends and family, join a support group, or see a therapist get the help and support you need.