Blog
Managing anxiety - 9 top tips
Sunday 10th June 2018
We all suffer from stress and anxiety at some point in our lives, whether it is exams, work or relationship related. When these worries begin to take over your life and stop you functioning it is time to seek professional help. However, there are many processes that you can put in place to take back control and manage your stress to lessen the impact it has on your life.
Here are 9 Top Tips to help.
A healthy body
Exercising daily is important for both your body and your mind. Not only does exercise keep your body healthy, dopamine, the 'happy' chemical is released during exercise which could help boost a more positive outlook.
Keep drinking
Keeping hydrated and limiting caffeine and alcohol intake is essential for maintaining a healthy body and keeping your mind clear and active. The effects of caffeine and alcohol can be negative and exacerbate negative feelings.
Sleep well
Our bodies and mind need to rest and getting enough sleep is an important part of managing stress. Try to establish a good sleep routine and aim to go to bed at the same time each night and wake at the same time each day to create a recognisable pattern and natural rhythm.
Good food
Eating regular and balanced meals is important to keep your body fuelled and able to cope. If you skip meals or rely on 'junk food' to stimulate yourself, you may actually find your stress levels increasing.
It's good to talk
Many people are ashamed of anxiety but talking through worries and anxiety can have a positive effect and reduce the feeling of burden. Talking to friends, family or a therapist will all help voice what you're are feeling, whereas keeping it all in your head will actually increase the anxiety.
Write it down
Journaling or writing down how you feel is a positive process of emptying your mind. It is believed that the mind doesn't always need to remember everything, particularly if it is written down or sourced elsewhere. This is particularly useful before you go to bed and this brain dump should leave your mind feeling less burdened.
Don't self-diagnose
While search engines are a wonderful tool - you wouldn't be reading this without them - they can also be harmful as reading endless reports and articles on anxiety can leave you feeling more anxious than you were in the first place. Self-diagnosing yourself with anxiety disorders will only increase your stress and should only be left to professionals.
Surround yourself with positivity
Being around negative people can make your anxiety worse and they can even be the cause of your anxiety, always looking or creating a problem. If you are around happy and positive people, their support and confidence in you will help increase your own self confidence and esteem, helping to better manage your anxiety.
Distractions and rewards
You may feel like being alone when you are anxious and stressed but spending time doing things you enjoy are great distractions. Listening to an inspiring podcast, reading a book, going for a walk, cooking a favourite meal are all great ways to distract yourself from feelings of anxiety and reward yourself. Plan these events into your daily life to always have something to look forward to.