Alleviating Anxiety: Effective Coping Techniques to Ease Worry

When anxiety becomes a part of life that interferes with your daily tasks, mental health, and ability to socialize or generally function, gaining knowledge of what it is and how to manage it is the first step to reclaiming control over your life.

What Is Anxiety?

It is a normal emotion that everyone experiences at some point or another. It’s a feeling of extreme unease, such as worry or fear, that can be mild or severe. When anxiety becomes too overwhelming or something you experience over a long period of time, it can begin to interfere with daily life.

The causes of anxiety disorders can be complex and may involve a combination of genetic, environmental, and psychological factors. Stressful life events, trauma, or chronic health conditions can trigger or worsen anxiety. But it doesn’t describe one condition. There are several types of anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and specific phobias. Each type has its own set of symptoms, but common signs include excessive worry, restlessness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, muscle tension, and sleep disturbances.

Treatment for anxiety often involves a combination of therapies, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), medication, and general lifestyle changes. CBT helps people identify and change negative thought patterns, while medications, like antidepressants or anti-anxiety drugs, can help manage symptoms. Lifestyle changes to your fitness, diet, sleep, and more can also be beneficial in reducing anxiety.

Tips For Coping With Anxiety

The best way to cope with anxiety will differ from person to person. If you are someone who’s become aware of their anxious feelings and is trying to find somewhere to start, here are some ways to begin.

1.     Learn About Anxiety

Professional medical content writer Emily Delzell writes that being aware of what to expect and how your anxiety occurs can help you identify what you’re feeling and make changes to your way of thinking before it becomes irrational.

The fastest way to learn about this disorder is through educational sources like Psychology Today and similar websites that offer articles and resources on understanding the condition. But one of the best ways to learn about anxiety is through support groups, either online or in person, as they offer a community with shared/similar experiences, which can not only be comforting in hard times but also very informative on how to deal with overwhelming anxious feelings.

2.     Identify Triggers

Everybody is different, meaning that anxiety triggers will be personal. If you find yourself feeling the debilitating symptoms of anxiety when meeting new people, or find that you’re feeling this way after a major life event, you can note how/why this feeling occurs and find ways to manage it.

3.     Do a ‘Reality Check’

A reality check can help you by challenging irrational thoughts and putting things into perspective. By focusing on the facts and assessing the situation logically, you can reduce the intensity of your emotions and gain a better sense of control.

4.     Write in a Journal

Writing in a journal is a useful tool as it can help you identify triggers to see if there’s a pattern when it comes to your anxiety. Journaling also allows you to practice doing a reality check. When you’re writing down your thoughts, feelings, and experiences, it allows you to re-read and potentially recognize unhelpful behaviors, triggers, coping mechanisms, and more.

Another reason why journaling can help is that it’s a calming way to externalize anxious thoughts, making them feel more manageable than it does in your head. Being able to express these thoughts, free of judgment, will also help you come to terms with emotions you may not be familiar with.

5.     Seek Professional Help

Sometimes the best way to get the help you need is to speak with a psychiatrist or other qualified mental health professional, such as someone who has completed a Master’s in Mental Health Counseling program. When you can’t seem to help yourself, the brave step is to seek it from others.

To effectively manage anxiety and reclaim control over your life, it’s essential to understand its causes and seek changes, whether that be professional or your own lifestyle choices. Practicing personalized strategies to cope with anxiety is a great step toward managing those feelings. Seeking professional help when self-help methods fall short is a crucial step towards better mental health.