In our regular spot where we chat about things that might be affecting us, a few words on anxiety, and some ideas that may help deal with it a little.
Hello and a very warm welcome to the spot on the site where we chat about mental health and wellbeing. Title sort of gives it away there! The aim of this weekly spot isn’t miracle cures or anything like that, but rather we take time out to have a little natter about things that may be affecting you, or people around you. Not every article in this series will be of use of course, but hopefully over the course of it all, there’s something that may be of assistance.
This week, we’re talking anxiety. We’d imagine it’s something that most of us do battle with to some degree, and thankfully, most of the time it’s something that we tend to manage. It’s hard to go through modern life – even if there wasn’t a global pandemic – without some degree of low lying anxiety, and oftentimes, it has a habit of bubbling to the top.
Obviously if you’re really struggling, please call your GP. As many of us know, on its worst days, anxiety can be pretty crippling.
If it’s there, very present but not quite stopping you outright though, a few other little tips that might help. Please feel free to add anything that’s worked for you in the comments.
- Firstly, stop. We say this a lot, and it’s not always possible. But try and stop what you’re doing. Try deep breaths, breaking the cycle, perhaps going for a walk. Especially if you spend most of your day sat interacting with a screen, as many of us do, sometimes taking a break can make a difference.
- Self-care. Eating properly, not overdoing alcohol and caffeine, making sure you’re nourished and watered.
- Can you talk to someone about your anxieties? There are many brilliant support groups who are really keen to help. Perhaps there’s a friend or family member you can confide in. Just someone to help you externalise what’s making you anxious.
- Sleeping helps, although the double edged sword of anxiety of course is that it has a habit of interrupting sleep. Still, going to bed at a regular time, coming off a screen half an hour before, perhaps reading until you fall asleep and if you wake up? All small things, that might be of use.
- Simple, little thing, might help. If it’s bubbling up and feeling too much, just count very slowly to ten. It might just be enough to temporarily switch your head.
- Have something to look forward to. Easier said than done of course, but if you have a ticket for something you’ve booked, or a trip away, focus on that. Find something positive, a treat of sorts.
- Write things down. This helps for many of us, a little way to again externalise feelings and thoughts. To at least allow them a slight escape from your head.
