How Do I Handle My Anxiety?

I’m just going to jump right into it, I have had anxiety since I was 18 years old. 18 was an age for me where I was experiencing a lot of new things in my life that I didn’t necessarily know how to handle like college life, being on my own, relationship problems, etc. All of those things are completely normal but at that time I didn’t know how to take it all in. I felt like something was wrong with me, like I wasn’t supposed to feel like this and I didn’t know how to control it. When my anxiety acted up during these period of times, I would freak out because I’ve never felt like this before. I felt like I couldn’t breathe and felt like I was losing my mind even though I wasn’t.

Thankfully, I have found ways to cope with my anxiety attacks and these fears that cause my anxiety. Although it took years and different coping methods, I have finally found multiple ways to keep control of these anxious feelings. I do support methods which include taking medication to help anxiety and seeing a therapists, but I won’t be including those in this blog post. Maybe another time, but I’d rather discuss how to manage anxiety with natural ways. Let’s get on to the list!

1. Yoga. My anxiety gets bad at night, so doing some simple yoga poses really helps relax me.
2. Breathing techniques. The one I usually do is the one pictured below.
3. Getting enough sleep. I know in today’s world it can be really hard to push for decent amount of sleep, but trust me, 8 hours of sleep does wonders for your health.
4. Counting all the colors I can see.
5. Grounding yourself. This method involves using your 5 senses and really helps with intense anxiety/panic attacks.
6. Exercise. I know this may not sound original, but working out helps produce endorphins, which act as natural painkillers.
7. Drinking tea. Especially tea that has chamomile and lavender in them.
8. Take vitamins. Vitamins like Omega-3, Vitamin D, Gaba, and Magnesium are supplements I highly recommend to help ease (not get rid of) anxiety.
9. Hangout with close friends. Hanging out with friends is great, but sometimes being around people makes me anxious so I’ll call someone instead.
10. Read a book, Reading is honestly way better and healthier for your mind compared to being on your phone or watching TV.
11. Take a break. Just stop what you’re doing, don’t force yourself if it’s stressing you out because it will only make your anxiety worse.
12. Exclude drinks that contain caffeine from your diet and drink more water.