Everyone is susceptible to anxiety attacks, although these attacks happen in different people to varying degrees of intensity. Anxiety can greatly prevent a person from doing many things. Fear always undermines a person’s potential and robs him out of the chance to give his best. Fortunately, however, there are a few simple things you can do to combat anxiety when it strikes without warning. While there is no guarantee that anxiety will go away completely, following the tips below will ensure that anxiety levels decrease.
Here’s what to do when you feel the pangs of anxiety setting in:
- Relax a little.
It’s impossible to calm down if you stay too long focused on a stressful situation. The first thing to do is distract your mind from the situation for a few minutes. That doesn’t mean you’ll ignore the problem completely. Sooner or later, you will have to face your fears, but you must give that feeling time. Prepare your favorite meal, listen to your favorite music, read a book with a topic you like, do some physical activity, meditation, yoga, cycling, or you can even take a short walk. Just do whatever takes your mind off the situation for a while.
2. Take a deep breath.
Taking a deep breath often has a surprising calming effect when you are very anxious. It is especially helpful when anxiety manifests itself by taking your breath away so that you are constantly panting. By inhaling deeply and exhaling slowly, closing your eyes and emptying your mind of all thoughts, you can calm your mind, gaining more control over your body. Cycle five breaths for seven minutes every time you feel your anxiety increasing. This exercise has proven to cause a positive effect when dealing with anxiety issues.
3. Create the worst-case scenario possible.
Sometimes your worst fears are fed by your thoughts. They can seem very real and plausible when you are anxious, but when you look back afterwards, you realize that they are nothing short of illusory. You must train your brain to challenge your worst fears when you are feeling anxious. Ask yourself what is the worst thing that could happen to you. When you carefully analyze your fears and see how impractical they are, you will have an easier time fighting anxiety.
4. Talk to someone.
It’s often said that a problem shared with someone is a problem half-solved, and that is true even for anxiety. When you feel your anxiety getting the best out of you, quickly call or speak to someone you trust. Sometimes, just saying out loud your fears can give you some relief and a sense of having overcome.
Anxiety can be such a terrible thing to cope with. However, the good news is that there are things you can easily do to calm you down, such as a positive change in habits and behaviors that can influence your mental balance, and not letting anxiety get the best of you.
