How I Deal With My Anxiety
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| Picture taken by me in Hawaii |
(This video perfectly portrays a life with anxiety)
How I deal with my anxiety is something I have been trying to master for many years now. I have had anxiety since I was a kid and it would make it difficult to do social things (such as sleepovers with out calling my mother to come pick me up). Once I knew it was consuming my life, I knew I had two options: Let it consume me or take control of it. My anxiety progressed in high school and increased drastically once I graduated. From the moment I woke up to the moment I went to sleep, I felt like I couldn't breathe. So this is how I began taking control of it:
- Set the atmosphere of relaxation. As soon as I wake up I open the curtains and my window and try to stop to see the beauty in that day. Raining, gloomy or sunny, I stop to think of how beautiful the day is for one reason or another. I also take gratitude in having the privilege to be in that moment to enjoy it. Religious or not, it is still such an honor to be alive.
- I tone down the amount of sad music I listen to. I think it is good to listen to it sometimes but that used to be all I would listen to. There was no wonder why I was so upset all of the time. It's okay to acknowledge your feelings but don't dwell on them. If there is anything that I have learned, it is that the worst scenarios seem everlasting but they never are. I have gotten through so many things in my life that I never thought I could have in that moment.
- Limit social media. Spend more time having one on one conversations with people.
- Talk it out. Give yourself the closure you deserve. If you need a councilor or a psychiatrist, then schedule an appointment. Don't ever feel embarrassed of taking care of yourself and getting the help you need. You can't move on when you have not resolved the issues that were holding you back in the first place.
- Be honest. If you made a mistake, own up to it. Lying to yourself helps no one. It's not worth the approval of others to lie because in the end, you know you've made a mistake. Being honest and humble shows integrity and nothing feels better than being a good person.
- Breathe. In the moment of an anxiety attack, pull yourself aside if you can and gather your thoughts. Target the issue and work it out. Did you say something embarrassing? Joke about it with others. (This is an issue I have, I dwell on little things like this but I have found that once I address it with others, they usually laugh about it and tell you how it is not a big deal at all)
- Surround yourself with the good. Being around people who make you feel bad about yourself is not worth anything in the world. Stop hanging with people who are bad influences or who are condescending. This is something I have learned with age but have been told since adolescence. I think people come in and out of my life for a reason, to teach me something. So, with that being said, I don't regret anything in my life because those people sculpted me into the person I am today. Once you start focusing on starting your life, you'll find the importance and value in those who truly care about you.
- Take time for yourself. Give yourself a spa day and then enjoy the things you love to do.
- Be organized. Have a clean space. When I have an unclean room/car, I find that I feel on edge and it just makes my anxiety worse.
- Eat healthy and exercise. I have seen such a dramatic difference not only with my body but with my mind just by eating healthy and exercising. I have been doing this since May; it definitely hasn't been easy at first but once I got in the routine of things, it has made a such a big impact on my life.
What do you do to help your anxiety? Comment below to give more tips to others who may be going through the same thing.
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