Defeating Anxiety - The Better Side of Your Mind

Apr 10, 2019

Anxiety. A topic few talk about, but many suffer from. As you may know, anxiety can be debilitating with an unwelcome grasp over your life; but how do you learn to walk away from it? Defeating anxiety isn't exactly easy, but gaining control is right at your fingertips.

Mediation- When you mention anxiety, almost everyone in the room starts to shout about how meditation changed their lives. It might not seem to help at first, but sometimes sitting down in silence is a great way to hear your brain express why you're anxious. Even when your anxiety may seem to come from nowhere, focusing on what you're anxious about and why might be the best way for you to help eliminate it.

Cutting Caffeine- When you're mid-panic attack, you might feel an overwhelming adrenaline rush that nearly takes your breath away. One thing that could possibly be contributing to your anxiety could be as simple as a cup of coffee. Caffeine is a stimulant that helps bring your energy up, but it also stimulates your adrenaline flow which leaves your mind in hyperdrive. If you can't eliminate caffeine from your daily life, even minimizing your intake might make a huge difference.

EMDR- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing may sound big and scary but it's actually quite simple and effective as a treatment for Anxiety, Depression, and PTSD. EMDR consists of focusing on something that's moving and following it with only your eyes. For example, looking at a fish tank. Your eyes follow the fish but your head doesn't move. This helps your brain reset and turn off those anxious thoughts. If you have a moment of anxiety, try moving your finger in front of your face from side to side and follow it with just your eyes.

Journaling- Not many believe it but journaling is an extremely helpful coping mechanism. Writing down your anxious thoughts can be a big help with transferring them from your mind to paper. Even if nobody reads them or you burn the paper right after, it's already helped you express the anxiety and can give you more peace of mind.

Medication- There are always going to be people who are against treating anxiety with medication, but what is right for you? When you feel like you've tried everything and none of it has worked, it feels like you're at your wits ends. Sitting down with your doctor to discuss if it's time to treat medically may be your best option. Your psychiatrist may prescribe you with a small dose as needed or consider a long-term treatment option through medications. Whatever you feel comfortable with is going to be the key with finding peace in your anxiety.

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