Tools to Relieve Anxiety
The Covid-19 pandemic brought depression and anxiety to many people worldwide. Feelings of dread, fear, and uneasiness can be deeply unpleasant. Anxiety symptoms present themselves differently to everyone. Whether it be a panic attack, upset stomach, or nervous tension, the distress and discomfort are oftentimes overwhelming. Over 40 million people in the United States suffer from generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Thankfully there are licensed mental health counselors who are able to guide you to the best treatment options to relieve anxiety. Through assisted lifestyle changes with the tools listed below, you can better regulate your emotions and train your brain to view life from a less fearful perspective.
Tools to Relieve Anxiety
Talk To Someone
This is one of the best ways to relieve anxiety. Talk to your loved ones, friends, and family, tell them what you’re going through, and it will help you a lot. Tell them how they can help you in your situation. However, if you do not have someone to talk to, you might consider writing what you feel in your journal. Expressing that you are feeling anxious in any matter will help you to reduce your anxiety. You may also try talking to your doctor or a licensed mental health therapist to seek professional help.
Exercise Daily
Daily exercise alleviates anxiety because it helps improve your mood. Exercise also reduces the release of negative emotions such as anger, fear, and worry that the stress gives. Do what you feel that will work out for you at the moment. It could be walking, stretching, and yoga. It is not necessary to work out in the gym. Break your actual routine and include exercising in your daily activities. Having an exercise routine will make you resilient to stress, and it will also relax your muscles that become tightened due to stress and anxiety.
Take Action
Sitting around, worrying, thinking of your problems, and doing nothing won’t help you at all. In fact, sitting around will make you suffer and won’t accomplish anything. You have to keep yourself busy. Consider doing the dishes, laundry, or even reading a book to help. Taking action by doing something will help you relieve anxiety.
Limit Yourself In Watching News
Watching news nowadays can be stressful and affect our mood. Even if you don’t watch the news, we cannot change what already happens and we must continue our lives. Limiting watching the news will also help in your anxiety. Therefore, it is important that you avoid watching stressful news before going to bed.
Be Grateful
Thinking of things to be thankful for will help reduce your anxiety rather than think and worry about something. Think of things that you feel grateful for, like your career, wealth, health, friends, and family. Doing so can help give you a positive outlook on life. When you start to be grateful, your mindset will change. This is a result of feeling blessed rather than thinking of things you do not have. Instead, think and imagine the things that they do not have. Thus, giving back to the community and sharing your blessing will also help with anxiety.
Best Tools & Apps For Managing Stress
Sanvello
Sanvello helps people change their behavior and thinking patterns. It is a cognitive behavioral therapy tool that enables you to track your moods and thoughts, set daily goals, and use relaxation techniques to eliminate stress.
Headspace
Headspace gives you access to a wide range of programs. From daily exercises to targeted approaches, this tool can help you bring mindfulness and relaxation into every part of your life.
Calm
Calm is a meditation training and relaxation app that offers relaxing nature scenes with sounds and music to help you relax. It is the best mindfulness app for both newcomers and meditation enthusiasts alike. Calm helps users find inner peace and navigate life’s stressors.
Breathe2Relax
Breathe2Relax is a free smartphone app that will teach you how to breathe from your diaphragm. That may not sound like much, but such deep breathing has been shown to reduce stress. Many meditation experts recommend mindful breathing as the first line of defense when anxiety strikes.
Self-help for Anxiety Management
Self-help for Anxiety Management was developed by a team of psychologists, computer scientists, and students, and it is free. Moreover, it incorporates a variety of anxiety-reducing methods, including mood tracking and information and anxiety-reducing exercises.
Managing Anxiety
Using these tools to assist in battling anxiety can help you in your daily life. Most importantly, these tools can help in relationships with people that are dear to your heart. Learning to control your emotions, especially when you feel depressed, will help you make better decisions on things that matter to you.
Additional Reading:
What Are the Types of Anxiety?
Tips to Manage Anxiety Related Sleep Problems
Blue Sky Counseling Omaha
I, Carly Spring, M.S., LIMHP, LADC, CPC, offer my specialized expertise to assist in the healing process to anyone who may be experiencing and suffering from a vast spectrum of mental health issues. Such mental health issues include behavioral problems, anxiety, depression, grief, loss, trauma, addiction issues, and life transitions. I believe strongly in applying a holistic perspective addressing your whole person not just the bits and pieces of you. Contact us with any questions or to discuss mental health services in Omaha today.