WHAT IS ANXIETY?

Anxiety is the body’s way and mental response to stress and fear. You might have a physical and/or mental response when stressed or fearful. Below are symptoms you might experience:

Physical

Racing heartbeat

Numbness or tingling

Shortness of breath

Palpitations

Lethargy

Trembling

Butterflies in the stomach

Muscle tension

Sweating

Feeling faint

Psychological

Issues with concentration

Avoidance behavior

Feeling overwhelmed

Nervousness

Panic

Irritability and edginess

Fear

Dread

Worry

Uneasiness

IS ANXIETY COMMON?

If you’re reading this post I’m guessing you’re experiencing anxiety, have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, or know someone struggling with it.

Right out of the gates I want to normalize anxiety for you – according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), anxiety is the most common mental illness, affecting 40 million adults in the U.S. You read that right – 40 million!

So, you are definitely NOT alone and there is NOT something wrong with you. You’re NOT crazy!

DOES EVERYONE EXPERIENCE ANXIETY?

The short answer is YES!

We’ve all experienced anxiety at one time or another and it’s a totally normal part of life. Everyone worries about situations, problems, or events from time to time.

CAN ANXIETY BE HELPFUL?

Yes, it can be very helpful at times.

A touch of anxiety can motivate us to do things, prepare for upcoming events (such as studying for an exam), and keeps us safe by protecting us from dangerous situations (our flight or fight response is activated).

In fact, there is a name for this good type of stress (anxiety) – “eustress”.

WHEN IS ANXIETY AN ISSUE?

It’s a problem when it’s incessant and interferes with daily life. Those with an anxiety disorder may unnecessarily worry about too many things at once and it can negatively impact many areas of their life (home, work, school, and health). It can be totally debilitating when symptoms are severe.

MY STRUGGLE WITH ANXIETY

In previous posts, I mentioned that I was a social worker for years and have a Masters in Social Work. So, I have some professional and educational experience with mental health (this post is in no way giving professional advice).

Because of my background, I’m familiar with anxiety. But it’s not only because of my previous work and educational experience I have this knowledge. I have dealt with anxiety for my entire life.

At times, the anxiety I experienced was somewhat debilitating and downright unbearable. In the past, all areas of my life were impacted, primarily relationships.

There were days the anxiety was so bad I would be in tears. I constantly thought something wrong with me and wondered why I couldn’t just be “normal”.

I was totally overwhelmed with daily life and found completing tasks hard.

I would look at others getting stuff done and wondered how they juggled their responsibilities with such ease and beat myself up because I couldn’t.

Worry was my constant companion and I would obsess about future situations. I would imagine the worst possible outcomes (which 99.9% of the time never happened).

Getting online for HOURS and searching for information on the imagined catastrophic outcomes was my way of trying to control the situation.

Of course, the information I found would send me down an even deeper rabbit hole.

I’ve been diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and given my education and professional training I know it’s an accurate diagnosis. I check off most boxes on the GAD assessment.

I am sharing my experience because I am committed to always being transparent with you and because it might make you feel less alone. Struggling with mental health can feel pretty lonely at times.

However, I will never say I know EXACTLY how you feel because everyone’s experience with mental health is different. Although we might share similar symptoms and check off some of the same boxes, we are not the same person.

It drives me crazy when professionals use a blanket approach to treatment!

I can happily say that these days I cope with anxiety quite well and the good news is YOU can too!

How do I cope? It’s a combination of medication AND coping skills. I am NOT suggesting everyone should take medication and I know it can be a controversial thing for some. It’s just what works for me.

While medication might not be the route you want to take, EVERYONE and ANYONE can benefit from techniques to cope with anxiety. You don’t need a diagnosis or consistent issue with anxiety to find coping skills helpful. Remember, everyone feels anxious from time to time!

Below you will find a list of simple coping skills and ways to prevent anxiety.

But before we get to the list, I want to say that coping skills and other techniques to cope with anxiety aren’t a one size fits all type of thing. It’s about what works for YOU! I encourage you to experiment to see what is most helpful for you.

15 STRATEGIES TO COPE WITH AND PREVENT ANXIETY

1. Limit Caffeine and Alcohol

A lot of people don’t realize that these substances can impact anxiety levels, so mentioning them is important.

Alcohol causes changes in serotonin levels in the brain, which can increase feelings of anxiety. The anxiety you feel might even be worse after the alcohol wears off.

I notice a BIG difference in my anxiety levels the day after having a couple of cocktails!

Additionally, psychotropic medications don’t work as well when mixed with alcohol so that anti-anxiety med you take might not be working at it’s best after a cocktail.

Caffeine is a stimulant, which can have a significant impact on anxiety levels. It triggers the body’s flight or fight response and can worsen and/or cause anxiety symptoms.

I had to stop drinking coffee at work because after a cup a java I felt as if I wanted to crawl out of my skin! The nervousness and agitation I felt were unbearable.

2. Get Enough Sleep

This one seems like common sense, but a lot of people still neglect this area of their lives. Getting the recommended 7-8 hours of sleep a night is crucial to your mental well-being.

If you’re interested in hearing more about this, the ADAA discusses the connection between anxiety and sleep on their site.

3. A Well-Balanced Diet

Eating poorly and skipping meals can negatively impact your mental health. Harvard medical school has a really interesting article specifically discussing anti-anxiety foods. You can check in out here

4. Talk to Someone

This can be a friend, family member, professional, or anyone else you feel comfortable sharing your experiences with.

Don’t be afraid to ask people for support! Sharing feelings or asking for support can be a hard thing to do but it can make such a positive difference in your mental health.

By sharing you are allowing yourself to be vulnerable, which is one of the bravest things you can do!

5. Be Aware of What Your Anxiety Triggers Are

Knowing what situations, places, or people trigger anxiety for you can help you prepare for those experiences beforehand.

6. Journal

Journaling is an effective way to help you shift anxious thoughts and reduce stress. It doesn’t need to be an everyday practice to reap the benefits. You can journal on an as-needed basis.

7. Meditation

Research has repeatedly shown that mediation can help reduce and prevent anxiety symptoms. Even a few minutes a day can have a HUGE positive impact on your anxiety levels.

Meditation is by far my favorite coping skill to deal with anxiety!

8. Ask Yourself “What’s the Worst Thing That Can Happen”?

I LOVE this one and use it often.

Those with anxiety disorders are prone to cognitive distortions, such as catastrophizing. When people catastrophize, they think of the worst-case scenario or that something is far worse than it is. I previously mentioned that I struggled with this.

Essentially, it’s blowing things out of proportion and a type of irrational thinking.

When I ask myself “what’s the worst thing that could happen” it helps me recognize that I’m catastrophizing. I realize that the worst-case scenario might be more manageable than I anticipate or not happen at all!

9. Breathe

This is another one that I love and use often when feeling anxious. There are lots of breathing activities you can use (such as box breathing) but even simply focusing on your breath going in and out of your body works.

10. Exercise

I can’t stress this one enough. In my opinion, there is NO substitute for physical activity. It is by far one of the most effective ways to cope and prevent anxiety.

Even a brief 5-10 minute walk makes a big difference in mental well-being. Get those endorphins flowing!

I know that sometimes it can be hard to get motivated to do anything when feeling anxious but forcing yourself to do some form of physical activity is likely to help. The situation you were anxious about will likely feel less magnified and worrisome afterward.

11. Know that the Anxious Feelings Won’t Last Forever

When you’re anxious it can feel as if it will never end. It will pass!

12. Remind Yourself of What You Have Accomplished

Anxiety can be triggered when thinking about the tasks you need to get done. It can feel totally overwhelming and as if nothing is being accomplished. Reminding yourself of what tasks you have completed can be helpful in reducing anxiety.

13. Do One Thing on Your Task List

A common trigger for anxiety is feeling overwhelmed by having things that need to get done. It can become debilitating, which causes nothing to get done.

Take a breath and focus on ONE thing on your list you can do right now. Complete it and cross it off your list. You will feel more in control of the situation.

14. Practice Self-Compassion

As I previously shared, I used to be SO hard on myself when feeling anxious. I would wonder what was wrong with me and why I couldn’t just get things done without feeling so overwhelmed like a “normal” person.

Beating yourself up won’t help! In fact, it will make things worse and can lead to depression.

When you feel anxious recognize that you are having a hard moment and talk to yourself like you would a friend. Be kind and gentle toward yourself.

There is NOTHING wrong with you!

15. Do Something to Take Your Mind Off of it

Ruminating (thinking the same anxious thought over and over) is not helpful and can also make you depressed. Pick an activity to distract yourself (read a book, take a walk, call a friend). Force yourself to do this. I know it can be hard to motivate yourself to do anything when severely anxious but you can do it!

2 additional recommendations involve seeking the help of a professional. There is NO shame in getting professional help for anxiety! You may want to try:

1. Therapy

You might find it helpful to talk to a professional. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based practice that can be extremely effective in the treatment of anxiety.

2. Talk to Your Doctor About Medication Options

As I stated previously, medication is not for everyone. People have different beliefs about taking medication for mental health purposes and that’s ok. You have to make choices for yourself that you’re comfortable with.

In my case, I feel that my life is unmanageable without medication. A combination of medication and coping skills is what works best for me.

Until next time! x

If you liked this post you may also enjoy 25 Journal Prompts for Mental Health

Before we part, I want to share a couple of TED talks on the topic of anxiety that might be helpful:

How to Cope with Anxiety

How I Live with High Functioning Anxiety