%20pngg.png)
I am a semi-introverted, artistic person who has struggled with anxiety on and off ever since I was young. Obviously I can only tell you what anxiety is/has been like for me personally, and my experience may not be the same as others. Similarly, my coping techniques may or may not help anyone else, but they are mostly healthy techniques if you want to know more about those. ^^
(And I should mention that I have work, so I apologize in advance if I'm slow getting back to you on something)
.jpg)
I would be interested in hearing about healthy coping techniques, whenever you get around to it.
Okie dokie! I have a few main tactics when dealing with anxious thoughts. And before I start, I'd like to clarify that for me, "anxious thoughts" are any thoughts that make me stress out or worry so much that I essentially shut down and can't enjoy anything until the thoughts go away. They usually have to do with the future, or my body since I'm constantly afraid of getting a horrible disease or something. In my early teens I really struggled with anxiety because I didn't know how to manage it or care for myself. Nowadays, it's still there, but usually I can handle it.
Here are the things that I've found that help me cope:
Noticing them when they first start and nipping them in the bud. This is a big one, and I had to learn it the hard way. Anxiety is soooo much easier to deal with when it's still just a small whisper in the back of your head. A related tactic is figuring out why I'm in anxiety mode at all. Sometimes it has nothing to do with what I think I'm worried about in that moment. For example, I might be low on sleep, or a family member might be upset which in turn put me on edge. Taking these external factors into account can be very comforting, and often takes the bite out of whatever I'm worrying over.
Self care. My anxiety is magnified exponentially when my body's running on bad fuel. I know this for a fact. It's hard sometimes to be healthy, but at the same time, it's worth it. Simple things like getting enough sleep, eating right, and exercising can totally crush feelings of ambient anxiety, and gives me the energy to address the bigger anxiety when it arises.
Talking to someone I trust and respect about whatever's making me anxious. This one has always been very hard for me, mostly because my anxiety likes to control me by keeping me isolated and uninformed. It basically tells me that if I tell someone what I'm worried about, they'll only confirm that my worries are valid and make me feel even worse. However, when I do confess my worry to someone (usually in tears lol) they have been able to completely eliminate the worry like 99% of the time just by giving me a reality check and reminding me how unlikely my fears actually are.
Going outside and sitting in a natural setting, and focusing on the smallest plant/bug/etc that I can find. I'm not exactly sure how this one works. Whether it's the tranquility, or the fresh air, or the feeling of being grounded, it's often quite effective. It works better in the spring or summer, but honestly sometimes I'll go out and stand in the rain or snow and the cold will really clear my had. Plus, the sky is gorgeous no matter the season, and staring at the sky is pretty much my spirituality at this point XD )
Some honorable mentions:
Doing fun stuff with friends and family. This one isn't always perfect, because it only distracts me from my worries rather than resolving them. But I still think it's important.
Meditating. For me, that just means sitting somewhere quiet, putting on a relaxing ten minute song, and focusing on my breathing while I listen to it. Sometimes I like to visualize myself flying or something as well. This technique is more for improving my mood and calming myself than reducing my anxiety.
That's all! Sorry if it was wayyy more info than you wanted lol. Hope you found it interesting and/or helpful! ^^
No, that's great! Thank you! It's definitely helpful for both writing and personal use.
No problem! Glad to help! :)