What to do when you have anxiety

In today's post, I'm going to tell you what to do when you have anxiety, so prepare your favorite drink and get comfortable. Now, let's get started!

Number 1: listen to a relaxation or guided meditation specifically for anxiety. You’ll find many on YouTube. Choose the one that suits you best.

Number 2: do exercise. When you exercise, natural brain chemicals called endorphins are released, which make you feel great. Plus, you’ll sleep better and be more present because you have to focus on what you’re doing while you exercise.

Number 3: write in a diary. This will help you unburden your mind of thoughts you’ve been mulling over for a long time, and by putting them down on paper, it will make them seem smaller.

You can write down what’s worrying you or anything else that is on your mind.

Since writing you can only think about one thing at a time, this will help you begin to relax.

Preferably, do it by hand. Writing, especially writing by hand, is very therapeutic.

Also, journaling will greatly help you become aware of your limiting and unhealthy thoughts and beliefs, and then you’ll be able to change them.

Number 4: talk to someone you trust completely. It could be a girlfriend, a family member, or your partner. You can also ask them to hold your hand, as this helps you relax.

Number 5: take a relaxing bath. Fill your bathtub with warm water, add a few drops of lavender essential oil, and soak in it.

You can also use bergamot essential oil, which relieves stress and combats insomnia, and sweet orange essential oil, which also calms and relaxes.

But before adding essential oils, add a plant-based oil that you like to protect your skin when using essential oils. If you use essential oils without a plant-based oil, the essential oils will irritate your skin.

Number 6: go get a relaxing massage. If your partner is good giving you a massage, you can ask them to give you one. Or if not, go get one. You’ll find that after a relaxing massage, you’ll feel much better, as relaxing massages increase serotonin (the happiness hormone) and dopamine, and decrease cortisol (the stress hormone).

Number 7: ask a therapist for help. I highly recommend you psychologist Ali Mattu. He has a YouTube channel, where you can find tools that I think will be very useful. He also has a website where he shares more resources for overcoming anxiety.

Number 8: reconnect with your essence, with your true self. Take your focus off the outside and put it inward, because deep down, that’s what anxiety is asking of you.

Feel the emotions that are welling up within you and try to understand the message it’s trying to give you. Pay attention to your soul’s true desires, align yourself with them, and make a plan to achieve them. Realize what you truly want in life and what you don’t. Becoming aware of this will lower your anxiety levels, because if you suffer from anxiety, it’s very likely that you’ve been living for others instead of for yourself.

Number 9: rest as much as you can. When you have anxiety, it’s normal to need more sleep than usual.

Number 10: come down to your body. Notice the sensations within, even if you’re feeling the unpleasant sensations of anxiety. Feel them.

Normally, when you do this, the unpleasant sensations of anxiety will become stronger, and this is because you’re allowing those sensations to express themselves.

After this, you may feel like crying, and that’s normal, since when you cry, you’re releasing. It’s the first step toward relaxation. It may involve crying, but it may also mean that you start to shake, or that you feel like moving or screaming. It’s all normal.

Number 11: slow down your life. In our current society, it’s normal to be in a rush and constantly have to be productive. But this doesn’t have to be the case. In fact, it’s not healthy to live this way. Slowing down your life will reduce your anxiety levels. Take things slowly.

Number 12: take deep breaths. It involves breathing, filling your abdomen with air, and then exhaling. Inhale through your nose, hold it for five seconds, and then slowly exhale through your mouth. Repeat this about ten times. Diaphragmatic breathing is what will help you reduce anxiety levels.

Number 13: return your attention to the present. When you have anxiety, it means you’re living in the future, so to reduce anxiety, I recommend you putting your full attention on the present moment.

Grounding is a fantastic tool to bring your attention back to the present moment. Take off your shoes and place your feet in the sand or grass. If you don’t have nature nearby to take off your shoes, you can buy potting soil, put some newspapers on the ground, pour a handful of soil on the ground, take off your shoes, and step into the earth.

Also, pay attention to your five senses. Notice what you see, what you hear, what you smell, what you taste and what you touch.

And that’s it. I hope you liked this post and that it’s been useful for you.