Use Aromatherapy
Whether they’re in oil form, incense, or a candle, scents like lavender, chamomile, and sandalwood can be very soothing.
Aromatherapy is thought to help activate certain receptors in your brain, potentially easing anxiety.
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Walking away from an anxiety inducing situation can be very effective. Taking some time to focus on your body and not your mind may help relieve your anxiety.
Writing down what’s making you anxious gets it out of your head and can make it less daunting.
Try breathing in for 4 counts and breathing out for 4 counts for 5 minutes total. Evening out your breath, you slow your heart rate which may help you calm down.
Negative thoughts can take root in your mind and distort the severity of the situation. Ask yourself if your fears are warranted, and see where you can take back control.
- Stressful environments
- Driving or traveling
- Genetics
- Withdrawal from drugs or certain medications
- Side effects of certain medications
- Trauma, phobias and other mental illnesses
- Chronic issues or illnesses like heart disease, diabetes, or asthma
- Caffeine, alcohol or smoking
CBT helps people learn different ways of thinking about and reacting to anxiety-causing situations. A therapist can help you develop ways to change negative thought patterns and behaviors before they spiral.
While this takes some practice to do successfully, mindful meditation, when done regularly, can eventually help you train your brain to dismiss anxious thoughts when they arise.
If sitting still and concentrating is difficult, try starting with yoga.
Exercising regularly, eating balanced meals, getting enough sleep, and staying connected to people who care about you are great ways to stave off anxiety symptoms.
If your anxiety is severe enough that your mental health practitioner believes you’d benefit from medication, there are a number of directions to go, depending on your symptoms. Discuss your concerns with your doctor.
Anxiety is part of our brain’s response to a perceived danger. But it may grow out of control into an anxiety attack or a panic attack, or both simultaneously.
Initially, manageable anxiety can build up over a few hours and become an anxiety attack. This is different from a panic attack, which is out of the blue and subsides.
- Feelings of danger, panic, or dread
- Nervousness or restlessness
- Rapid heart rate
- Sweating
- Trembling or chills
- Tiredness or weakness
- Gastrointestinal problems
- Difficulty focusing
- Hyperventilation
- Fear of dying
- Feeling like you’re losing control
- A sense of detachment
- Heart palpitations
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pains or tightness
- Nausea
- Feeling lightheaded or dizzy
- Numbness or tingling in your extremities
- Feeling hot or cold
If you notice that quick tips haven’t been working, you may want to consider seeing a professional for help. Especially if you may have GAD and it's interfering with routine activities and causing physical symptoms.
A mental health professional can help with streamlining the process of identifying your triggers and maintaining long-term strategies. Anxiety may always be a part of your life, but all cases can be managed.
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Short-lived episodes of anxiety are normal and can actually enhance productivity. But if they last beyond truly stressful moments and seep into everyday situations, they can be a clinical problem.
Too much anxiety can affect your relationships, your work, and even your health. So it’s important to know how to differentiate between healthy anxiety and a potential anxiety disorder, and what to do if you see your anxiety getting out of control.
PTSD affects those around them. The anger, fear, or other negative emotions can put a strain on the strongest relationships.
- Learn all you can about PTSD so you can support your loved one.
- Join a support group for family members of people living with PTSD.
- Try to ensure proper treatment for your loved one.
- Recognize and accept that living with someone who has PTSD isn't easy. Reach out if you need to.
The "what if" line of questioning induces panic and lets you focus on imagined situations that escalate the problem.
Focus on the facts and work on a solution.