Banishing Anxiety and Reclaiming Your Life

Sep 03, 2020

Over 40 million Americans suffer from some degree of anxiety, making these disorders the most common mental illness in the United States. Anxiety can manifest itself in a number of ways; while some people feel crippled by constant panic attacks and an inability to enter into any social situation, others may experience a more general sense of stress and worry that underlies most (if not all) of their daily activities. Whether your anxiety leaves you feeling helpless and immobilized, or just annoyed, there are a few simple things you can do every day to alleviate some of the symptoms and help you reclaim your life.

Educate Yourself

Knowledge is power, and this is especially true for many people dealing with anxiety. Oftentimes simply knowing the "why" behind your anxiety responses may help to rid you of some of those anxious feelings. Our brains are complicated and powerful, but they're also malleable and can be trained to function and react the way we want them to. In some cases, it may be enough to simply familiarize yourself with things and situations that trigger your anxiety. This allows you to be more consciously aware of these things when entering into social situations or new settings, and in turn may make it easier to cope with the anxiety that you know is coming.

Rise and Shine...on a Schedule

Recent studies have shown that circadian rhythms - those internal, biological "clocks" that all living things operate around - play a critical role in a number of mood disorders. Allowing your body to operate on a set schedule of sleeping and waking may do wonders for your anxiety. And if you happen to be one of those people who just can't seem to get to bed at the same time every night, don't fret! Research is beginning to show that simply waking up at a similar time every day may be enough to establish a more secure and consistent circadian rhythm, and consequently help to ease some of those pesky anxiety responses.

Retreat and Reset

Whether you're in a stressful social setting, experiencing a problem at work, or facing an overwhelming task, simply allowing yourself to step away from the situation and take a minute to breath can help to "reset" your mindset. If possible, it's most helpful to physically step away from the room or setting where you feel anxious. Take a few deep breaths, and remind yourself that there's nothing wrong with needing to take a break. It may even help to intentionally distract yourself for a few minutes - read a chapter of your favorite book, draw, journal, go for a walk, grab some coffee. And if you start to feel settled and confident enough, return to the situation you left and tackle it head-on!

If you feel like you've tried it all and nothing seems to work, further steps such as therapy or medication may be the answer - and that's okay, we're here to help! Contact us for more information.