7 Things to Start Doing if You Have Anxiety

There is no doubt that anxiety can be a horrible thing to deal with it but it is actually very common and there are ways that you can manage it and have a happy life. You might feel like you are being suffocated right now but that is not a feeling that will last forever. These anxiety tips have been put together with you in mind so start putting them into practice today, and you will notice a big difference in your mental health in no time.

1 – Take Care of Yourself

Sometimes when you get anxious thoughts, it can be easy to reach for things that are bad for you in order to try and feel better, but that is only going to make the anxiety worse. If you tend to comfort eat or drink too much alcohol to deal with your anxiety – stop and incorporate healthier habits into your life instead. Not only is it bad for you to over-indulge in unhealthy foods and alcohol, it can actually increase your anxiety. You may not realize it, but if you “treat” yourself to feel “better”, it can be a reinforcer for the anxiety since your mind knows that it will enjoy what comes after. Eating nutritious food and exercising regularly can be very beneficial for your mind as well as your body. These good habits will make you feel better in the long run. It’s all about switching your bad habits (we all have them!) for good ones. 

2 – Keep a Journal

Overthinking and anxiety go hand in hand but that is not going to be beneficial if you are constantly turning things over in your mind. Journaling is one of the best tools for helping you deal with overthinking and ruminating. These thoughts need to go somewhere. If you have a lot that you want to get out, journalling can actually be super beneficial. Whether it’s as simple as writing your mood, about your day, or your worries – keeping a journal that you spend as little as 10 minutes writing in every single day can make such a positive impact on your life. Sometimes it even helps you to find out things you didn’t even realize were bugging you or on your mind until you end up writing it down with a flow of thought. 

3 – Think Positive and Practice Gratitude

People with anxiety often get stuck in a negative mindset that can be extremely hard to break and get out of. It is really important that you start looking at things differently but that is easier said than done of course. A good way to get started in changing your way of thinking is to practice gratitude. You can write down one thing every day that you are grateful for or better yet, you can say it out loud as an affirmation in the mirror. It doesn’t have to be anything mind-blowing every day, it could be something as simple as your morning coffee but you have to think of something! 

4 – Face Your Issues

If you have anxiety, it could be very broad or it could be about something in particular. Many people with the condition automatically want to run away from their problems but guess what? That will just make your anxious thoughts worse! Perhaps you are anxious about work or school; focus on these areas. If your anxiety is around your relationship or friendship, perhaps some tough conversations need to be had and some even tougher decisions need to be made. All of this isn’t going to be easy of course but look deep inside so that you can figure out what your internal issues are and try to deal with them in the way you know you need to.

5 – Find a Hobby that Makes You Happy

It is likely that you are in your head a lot and keeping yourself busy with something you enjoy is key if you want to start enjoying life again. You might already have a hobby but if not, find something that you really enjoy doing and focus on motivating yourself that way. That could be anything from running, dancing, writing, gaming, traveling, photography, or taking a class to learn something new. When you do something that you enjoy, your mood is instantly lifted and that is what you need right now. Starting a hobby and finding something that you are truly passionate about is not only good for your mental health in general, but it also helps reduce anxiety.

6 – Get an Anxiety Action Plan

Having an anxiety action plan is essential when anxiety becomes a regular occurrence in your life. When you are hit with anxiety, if you don’t have the right tools to manage it, you’re left with more anxiety and more stress. Being proactive is the best thing to do for yourself. Anxiety Action Plan is a great tool to use so you can go through the step-by-step program with an ebook and workbook. You deserve to be happy rather than fearing your next anxiety attack. 

7 – Talk to Someone

It is so important that you do not leave your anxious thoughts festering inside you because this tends to make anxiety worse. Although sharing your worries isn’t always easy, it is important that you do it. Talk to friends or family members about your anxiety, somebody you truly trust to be there for you. For people struggling with anxiety, having a trusted professional therapist or counselor has been extremely helpful to many. There are many choices, including online professionals if you’re too busy to miss work or drive to appointments. 

Conclusion

No matter how long you have had anxiety, there is always hope ahead. Trying to ignore the anxiety and the disruption it causes in your life usually compounds the problem so you are already headed in the right direction by searching for solutions. It can be a battle but it’s worth it to do the work and learn how to manage anxiety. Using the tips in this article will help and staying informed is always to your advantage.