*I am not a professional. These are methods that have worked for me in facing my anxiety. If you need professional help, please reach out to a professional. Much love!
I have struggled with anxiety for years now and have hit some very low points because of it. Anxiety can be incredibly crippling and discouraging. When I’m struggling deeply with anxiety, I get overwhelmed easily and naturally retreat to unplug from almost everything and everyone. Anxiety has driven me into some pretty dark places, making it hard for me to want to fight myself out of them. There are days where I cave in and give up, and that’s okay. It’s okay as long as I choose to continue to get up and fight the next day.
Anxiety is something many of us can struggle with – some more than others. Anxiety can be trigger by different things for different people. It’s important that we recognize that and also recognize the fact that we all cope differently, too.
[bctt tweet=”5 Self-Care Steps For Anxiety That Have Helped Me” username=”SummerTelban”]
Over the years, I have learned how to face my anxiety head-on so that it can’t ruin or run my life. Life is a beautiful and stretching thing, and I’m not going to let anxiety or any mental struggle take that away from me. Today, I want to share 5 steps that have helped me better identify the ways my anxiety is triggered and more importantly, how I can overcome it in the times I need to most.
5 SELF-CARE STEPS FOR ANXIETY:
1. Identify & Rationalize // One of the most important steps in confronting your anxiety is to learn where it comes from. You have to get to the root of it so that you can learn the steps to take to overcome it. Again, anxiety can be brought on in many different ways, so it’s important that you don’t shy away from figuring out what triggers your anxiety. For me, it can range from a few main things: socializing, overthinking, and some just seem to creep up out of nowhere.
When I’m on the verge of an anxiety attack, in the middle of one, or if I’m just plain anxious, body and mind, the next step I need to take after identifying why I’m feeling the way I am, is to rationalize with myself.
[bctt tweet=”When struggling with anxiety, it’s important to remind yourself that you will be okay.” username=”SummerTelban”]
I overthink a lot. To be honest, I know that’s where a lot of my anxiety is birthed from – overthinking about almost anything and everything. Since I’m such a thinker, it’s easy for me to identify the source of my anxiety, but I really struggle with rationalizing with myself. Even though it’s hard for me to talk myself through it, I need to do it. Reminding myself that I truly am okay is the first step. The second step is reminding myself that the worst possible scenario that is highlighted in my head probably will not happen.
2. Focus On The Present // Reminding myself of where I am right now helps to play a huge role in defeating my anxiety in a few different contexts. If I’m having an anxiety attack and I choose to take slow, deep breaths, it becomes easier for me to focus on “the now” and to realize that I am okay and that everything will be okay. If I’m overwhelmed and irritated, thinking of the future, I need to gauge my focus back to what currently matters, which is the present.
Choosing to focus on the present during the midst of your anxiety can help keep you grounded. That doesn’t mean your anxiety will suddenly disappear completely, it just means that you can get a better hold on where you are now.
[bctt tweet=”Choosing to focus on the present during the midst of your anxiety can help keep you grounded.” username=”SummerTelban”]
3. Focus On Breathing // Breathing matters and can make such a difference when you’re facing anxiety. From being overwhelmed and irritable to having an anxiety attack, focusing on your breathing can help to calm your body down.
Taking deep, slow breaths in through my nose and holding for 3 seconds before exhaling is the breathing exercise that helps me through my worst times of anxiety. Focusing on the counting and the breathing itself helps me to refocus when I need to most.
4. Talk About It // I struggled with anxiety for years before I talked to anyone about it. I remember not wanting to be a burden to anyone, even though I knew I had many people who did care about me. After learning about some friends who also struggled, it started to become easier to talk about with people. I’m so thankful for my husband. He’s always there to let me talk about when I’m struggling with anxiety (or depression – something else I’ve always struggled with) and he’s always there to reassure me that it has no hold over me.
It’s important that you have a friend or family member that you can talk openly with. You want someone who will listen when you just need them to listen and be there, and you want someone who will give advice and help when you ask for it. People do care and love you very much.
I know it’s not always easy to open yourself up to vulnerability, but it can be so freeing.
[bctt tweet=”Vulnerability isn’t easy, but it can be freeing.” username=”SummerTelban”]
5. Seek To Find Joy In The Chaos // While anxiety is the opposite of joy, just as you seek to focus on the present, seek to find joy in the midst of the chaos. Overcoming your anxiety attack should not only be a relief, but a joy, as well. The great thing is, you will always overcome them, so there’s always joy at the end of the chaos. If you’re too caught up in your thoughts and overthinking, ground yourself by celebrating the good that is present in your life.
Trust me, friend – I know that’s not easy to do. I know it’s not. But I want to encourage you to try and reach for joy – whatever it may be for you. Whether the joy is relief after anxiety or a special event that’s coming soon, choose to reach for that feeling of joy to pull you through the dark moments of anxiety.
[bctt tweet=”5 Self-Care Steps & Practices For Anxiety” username=”SummerTelban”]
Do you struggle with anxiety? What are some self-care steps and practices that you implement that help pull you through to overcome? What’s some encouragement you’d provide someone dealing with anxiety? Let’s chat!
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