6 Tips for Managing Anxiety

A lot in the world can make us get stressed and give us a lot of anxiety, and many of us suffer from anxiety. And more and more through these uncertain times, we are seeing more and more people struggle with terrible stress and anxiety.

Sometimes, it’s hard to snap out of this thinking when we are amid some big-time worries and stressors. It becomes paralyzing to move forward, and we get stuck in these hard-to-handle thoughts.

We wanted to share some tips to ensure that if your worries become a bit too much, you have the resources to help you get back on track.

3,3,3

Sometimes when we are getting deeper and deeper into our anxious thoughts, we must pull ourselves out of the thoughts that are making your mind race. That’s where the 3,3,3 rule comes into place. First, you’ll start by naming three things that you see. Then, name three things that you hear. Finally, move three parts of your body - your wrists, your neck, and your ankles. This trick will help center yourself and focus on getting out of the mind-racing thoughts.

Manage the Body

As we should all know by now, the things that we fuel our body with can significantly affect how our body functions, which can also lead to how we might experience anxiety. Often when we fuel our body with alcohol, nicotine, sugars, and caffeine, we will increase our levels of stress and how it affects us. This doesn’t mean that you completely cut this out of your routine/diet, but it’s important to enjoy it in moderation.

Breathe

This one sounds silly because obviously, we breathe all the time, but mindful breathing can make a world of difference when experiencing racing thoughts and anxiety attacks. There are many different breathing methods, so it’s important to find one or a couple that works for you. Box breathing is a favorite it comes to managing anxiety. You’ll exhale for four seconds, hold for four seconds, inhale for four seconds, hold for four seconds. Repeat this until you are feeling calmer.

Do Something

Sometimes to break out of a deep train of anxious thought, it’s sometimes easy for some people to distract their minds by doing a task. This could be going outside for a walk or doing some chores around your house.

Watch Something Funny

Laughter is an excellent medicine for anxiety, and if this trick works for you, it’s one of the easiest and most enjoyable. Turn on one of your favorite comedians, or turn on a sitcom that makes you laugh. Whatever it is, make sure it’ll get you chuckling.

Practice Self-Care

Take a moment every day to take a brief amount of time to focus on yourself. It’s not selfish. It’s important to have moments by yourself to ensure you are doing the right things for yourself and your body. Focusing can look different to every person and can even change week to week. Sometimes it’s taking a walk in the woods. Other times it’s eating one of your favorite desserts once every week. Whatever it is, make sure that you are focusing on your needs.

Luckily, there are many different ways that people can manage their anxiety. What are some of the tips that you use when you are experiencing stress? Let us know in the comments.