5 Ways to Cope with Anxiety
We all have experienced anxiety at some point in our lives, as fear is one of those universal emotions.
If you want to find ways to cope, you first need to identify the signs (e.g., chest discomfort, difficulty breathing, difficulty concentrating, etc.)
You can do this by taking a pause and mentally scanning your body to notice if you feel any discomfort, and secondly, locate where in your body you are experiencing it.
After you've done this, ask yourself, what do I need to do right now to take care of myself?
1. Engage in physical activity: this could be going for a walk, to the gym, or even dancing. Interrupt your anxiety by moving your body. Find ways to channel that energy more healthily instead of letting it build up.
2. Talk about it with a trusted friend. Be intentional about surrounding yourself with solid-grounded people that will be supportive during challenging times.
A friend plays such an essential role in one’s life, so it's great when you have a friend that will be real and encouraging with you.
3. Turn to your faith. If you believe in a higher power, ask yourself what your faith has to say about your specific situation.
As a Christian, a scripture that has helped me is Luke 12:25-26 "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?" (NIV)
Another scripture that has helped change my mindset has been Philippians 4:6-7 "Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus." (NLT)
I think the idea is that God is the source of everything we need, and it is important to stay rooted and place our trust in him.
4. Identify what you do have control over. Look at the situation you're worried about and focus your time and energy on what you do have control over.
Accept and let go of what you can't control. We cannot control every single thing that happens to us.
However, we do have control over our attitude and how we choose to respond to life stressors.
5. See a therapist. If you've been struggling with anxiety for some time or it's beginning to impact your level of functioning (e.g., at work), that could be a good indicator that it's time to see a therapist.
If you have any questions about how therapy could add value to your life, I would love to share more about how it could help transform your life. Feel free to visit my website at: www.revivelifecounseling.com
Remember, our feelings indicate how we feel at a given moment. You don't have to stay stuck and become paralyzed when you experience those icky feelings. Allow yourself to get the support you deserve!