As a sufferer of anxiety for the last 4 years I've tried all sorts of techniques and tactics to help me deal with the problem.
As you can imagine, some of these were effective and some much less so (no, rubbing jelly on my head didn't work!) Today I want to share with you some of the very best techniques and strategies that I now use to help me with the symptoms of anxiety and panic attacks.
Whilst not all of them are guaranteed to work for you, I'm confident that you will find at least some of them very effective: 1.
Eliminate Caffeine- we all have different tolerance levels when it comes to caffeine.
Whereas my wife can drink it by the gallon load and suffer no ill effects, I find that a single cup of tea can get my heart racing.
Caffeine is known to increase the heart rate, and hence sufferers of anxiety may find their symptoms exacerbated by taking caffeinated drinks.
I found that, whilst it took me a while to get used to not drinking caffeine, eventually I found I no longer needed the short term energy boost I used to get from it.
I also found that my anxiety symptoms improved.
If you really cannot eliminate caffeine entirely then consider drinking green tea, which has a much lower caffeine content, and also happens to be very good for your overall health levels.
It is even said to help you lose weight!!! 2.
Improve Your Diet- yes I know I'm sure you get told this all the time, but you see there is a direct correlation between what you eat, and how you feel.
This makes sense if you think about it carefully.
If you fill your body with sugary, processed and artificial foods then your body will experience quite violent energy swings- from high to low.
This will in turn exacerbate any symptoms of anxiety you may be feeling.
Aim to eat a healthy, balanced diet that includes plenty of fruit, vegetables, whole grains, pulses and nuts.
Since switching to a more healthy diet I have noticed a considerable difference in the number of anxiety attacks I suffer.
3.
Take Regular Exercise- with our modern lifestyles we all experience stress to varying degrees.
Many of us also lead sedentary lives, stuck for hours on end in front of the computer.
As well as improving your overall fitness levels and health regular exercise also helps release chemicals into the body that reduces stress and promotes feelings of well being.
When combined with a healthy diet exercise can make a huge difference to the levels of anxiety you feel.
Also, don't forget you don't have to sign up to that expensive gym.
A brisk 30 minute walk 3 or 4 times a week should suffice.
4.
Get a Cat!- numerous studies have shown that cat owners have, on average, lower blood pressure levels and stress levels than non-cat owners.
Whenever I have a particularly stressful day I go and make a fuss of our cat, Rosie, and give her a stroke or two.
It really does help you to calm down and relax.
If you're not a fan of cats then consider another pet, though make sure that you don't get one that's going to be too much work on put your nerves on edge! 5.
Distract Yourself- This is probably the single best bit of advice I can give you to combat anxiety and also general worry.
I find that it's when I'm lying in bed at night or not occupied at all that I have worrying thoughts.
One of the best antidotes to worry and anxiety is to distract yourself and keep busy.
This could be via exercise, or by carrying out your favourite hobby.
Alternatively just doing some work can be enough to take your mind off the worry! Of all the tips it is this that has helped me the most in my battle with anxiety! That's it! Not an exhaustive list, I know, but within these tips you should find a few nuggets that will really help you out.
If you would like a further 5 anti-anxiety tips, and loads more articles and help on beating stress please visit my site, How to Deal With Anxiety.
Thanks for taking the time to read this article and I wish you all the very best!