How often do you find yourself lying awake at night, worrying about things that may or may not be happening at the moment? For some of us, such a scenario may be an everyday reality, and that is far from surprising. After all, various factors can cause us much stress and anxiety, and the struggle of dealing with our different challenges is a challenge in itself.
For instance, you may feel anxious about an upcoming presentation, test, or performance. Or you may feel several tense hours before a job interview. In such cases, it is normal for you to expect that you would feel a certain level of stress.
However, for some individuals, the feelings of anxiety can persist even after many months. Psychologists say that when the feelings of anxiety continue in an individual for six months or more, he or she is already suffering from a general anxiety disorder and needs professional help.
Meanwhile, what can you do when you find yourself constantly anxious? The best reaction would be to address that feeling of anxiety before it worsens and becomes a disorder. This article will help you do that by discussing two techniques to address anxiety.
Technique 1 of 2: Fight Anxiety Mentally
Anxiety may affect your entire physical performance—lack of energy, loss of appetite, trouble with eating—but it mainly affects your mind. Thus, the best way to deal with anxiety would be to fight such excessive worries in your head mentally. How so? Consider the following ways.
Identify the source of your anxiety
First of all, what is it in your life that is making you anxious? What keeps you up late at night, tossing and turning in your bed? Determining the root of your anxieties is the first step in dealing with such feelings successfully. If you are unsure of the source of your anxiety, you may choose to keep a journal of your feelings. Writing your thoughts and feelings out is a great way of releasing pent-up emotions and makes it easy for you to identify why you are persistently anxious.
Assess the things that make you anxious
After you have identified the source/s of your anxiety, work to assess the distressing situation you have found yourself in. At this point, you need to keep in mind that no matter how things may seem to go out of hand, there are still some aspects of them that you can control. When you can identify what you can control in your stressful situation, take immediate action. For instance, are your bills making you anxious? Then try cutting back on your utilities expense so that you do not need to worry too much about it.
Avoid what you know you can’t handle
There are some stresses that you can, and you should avoid. For example, if certain people are stressing you out and you can’t seem to find ways to improve your relationship with them, try to avoid coming in contact with them. That is not to say that you would have to avoid them altogether, especially if seeing them is unavoidable, but you can work to minimize your interaction with them. What if you are claustrophobic and you cannot stand to be inside an elevator? Then take the stairs. If you can’t stand to be in a crowd, avoid going to crowded places. Such steps may seem little, but they can prove most helpful.
Visualize positivity
Life is not about your circumstance but of your perspective toward it. So, when you feel troubled and down, try to visualize a positive scene. Imagining something that will relax your thoughts is a great way to combat anxiety. If you have trouble visualizing something positive, you may want to consider meditation. There are several types of meditation for various types of people. It would be best if you try which method will suit you most.
Technique 2 of 2: Address your Anxiety Medically
Try relieving your anxiety naturally
Instead of drinking coffee, try to drink tea. Chamomile tea is not only effective for an upset stomach but also for stress and anxiety. The same goes for green tea, which contains the amino acid L-theanine. Scientists note that L-theanine induces a state of calm without making the person feel drowsy. If you do not like the taste of green tea, you may want to take L-theanine supplement instead.
Seek professional help
If your condition has been going on for six months or more, then it is time for you to seek the help of medical professionals. You may hesitate to schedule an appointment with a psychiatrist, but you need to keep in mind that early treatment for anxiety will help you deal with it.
Take appropriate medication
Consult with your healthcare provider on the effective anti-anxiety drugs that you can take to help you deal with your condition. It is important for you to remember, however, that you should not take any form of medication unless your doctor has prescribed it for you.