15 Ways to Help Ease Anxiety!

Ways to help ease Anxiety

Anxiety:

• a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome.
• a nervous disorder characterized by a state of excessive uneasiness and apprehension, typically with compulsive behavior or panic attacks.

Many of us have experienced Anxiety on one level or another. Maybe we have experienced anxiety around not being able to pay an upcoming bill, an upcoming presentation at work, a potential diagnosis, or present anxiety stemming from a past Trauma. Maybe you have experienced Anxiety related to one of these or Anxiety pertaining to something else. Whatever it may be though, Anxiety is intrusive. Anxiety impedes on our everyday life and our ability to live in peace. 

Stress is something that we all live with. And, as much as we look down on stress, it actually motivates us. However, stress can reach an unhealthy level to the point where it can become Anxiety. Anxiety can start to feel like a dark shadow that is following us in every step that we take. It haunts us. 

While it can sometimes feel that we are trapped within this anxiety, there is good news, you do not have to be. There are many things that are helpful with anxiety. 

1. Meditation - While there are many ways of engaging in meditation, An app that I would highly suggest is Calm. This app has guided as well as unguided meditations.
2. Mindfulness - The act of being in the moment. Mindfulness often helps to pull you into the present moment, as getting caught in our thoughts can be anxiety inducing. An app that I suggest for this is Smiling Mind. It helps to educate you on Mindfulness as well as lead you in mindfulness practices. 
3. Exercise - Exercise has many benefits not only for anxiety, but for our mental and physical health. It can help us feel that we are achieving a goal, boost our happiness, help us sleep better, and increase our self-confidence. All around it is healthy to engage in. 
4. Essential Oils - Find an oil that is soothing to you. You can put the oil on your skin, diffuse it into your environment, and depending on the oil can sometimes put it in your water to drink. 
5. Yoga - Yoga encourages you to focus on your breath, which pulls you out of your mind. It draws awareness into your body as well as helps you be more mindful. 
6. Square Breathing - Breathe in for 3 seconds, hold for 3 seconds, breathe out for 3 seconds, and rest for 3 seconds. Deep breathing can actually act in slowing your heart rate. Often when we are anxious, we find that our heart tends to race. 
7. Eating well and drinking water.
8. Making sure that you are getting enough sleep. 
9. Self-Care - Finding a way to find time for yourself. This may be engaging in a hobby that brings you joy or allowing yourself down time to relax. 
10. Therapy - Often times just having the opportunity to share your feelings can be very helpful in reducing anxiety. When we hold emotions and thoughts in, it can often become overwhelming for us and can cause for anxiety. 
11. Magnesium - Magnesium is a calming and relaxing mineral. It also helps to regulate your nervous system which helps with many things including Anxiety. 
12. Take a walk - Walking can often help to bring you into the moment and can bring you out of your thoughts, as you can become distracted with your surroundings. 
13. Be willing to get rid of things that encourage your anxiety - news, toxic environments, social media, etc.. We are surrounded by a lot of negativity and this can be anxiety provoking. 
14. Surround yourself with those that will encourage you and support you. 
15. Do not isolate yourself. This cause exacerbate the anxiety, as we often are left with our thoughts. 

​These are just a few things that are helpful with feelings of Anxiety. It is important to find a few things that work best for you. While Anxiety may be something that many of us deal with, it is also a very individual experience. Therefore, it is important to make yourself a priority and find the things that work best. 

Have you tried any of the above? What works best for you? ​

Brittany Wingfield // 720-336-0913 // nurturedheartscounseling@gmail.com //
www.nurturedheartscounseling.com //

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