How to Cope With Anxiety

Anxiety is a term you may have heard of, or perhaps even experience yourself, but it’s a term that is often used, sometimes incorrectly. To clarify, everyone experiences some anxiety from time to time; however, for some people, it is a debilitating, life-altering condition. You need to seek help when anxiety levels interfere with your day-to-day life.

With our fast-paced lives which involve juggling work, family, friends and other commitments, it’s no wonder many people experience some form of this condition.

The American Psychological Association describes anxiety as, “…an emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts and physical changes like increased blood pressure. People with anxiety disorders usually have recurring intrusive thoughts or concerns. They may avoid certain situations out of worry. They may also have physical symptoms such as sweating, trembling, dizziness or a rapid heartbeat.”

Professional Ways to Manage Anxiety

There are many ways to effectively manage anxiety. Seeking help from a professional counselor or therapist can help you explore your feelings, address the root causes and provide you with the healthy ways of coping with stress. You may receive:

• Individual therapy. Your counselor or therapist may use a variety of methods including psychoanalysis (a means of exploring unconscious or repressed fears), and cognitive behavioral therapy (learning new ways of thinking and behaving).

• Group therapy. While being in a group setting may be the last thing you want to do, group therapy has been proven to be an effective means of overcoming social anxiety (remember everyone in the group is struggling with similar issues as yourself), and a great way to practice new skills.

Simple Tips for Managing Anxiety in Your Daily Life

Here are some ways to cope with everyday anxiety and keep stress levels to a healthy minimum:

• Reframe your thoughts. If you have a million worries going through your head, try to sort them out between things you can control, and those that you cannot. Make a plan of action to tackle items that are within your control.

• Get plenty of physical exercise. A regular workout routine is a great way to manage stress and anxiety. Not only will you be distracted from worries, the feel-good endorphins your body produces post-workout help to manage stress.

• Practice yoga or meditation. Both yoga and meditation are effective ways to experience being “fully present.” How often are we distracted by our cell phones and not truly living in the present moment? Yoga’s various poses encourage mindfulness of your own body and mind while meditation helps to calm and clear your thoughts.

• Eat balanced meals. What we put into our bodies affects our moods and energy levels. Over-consumption of caffeinated drinks aggravates anxiety, and too much processed sugar causes mood swings and rapid changes of energy levels. Try eating three regular meals a day with plenty of whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables and notice the change in how you feel.

Learning to minimize anxiety levels is a necessary skill as part of a happy and well-balanced life. To speak to a professional call or contact us today at 202-641-5335.