It’s totally normal to feel stressed or anxious from time to time, but those feelings do not have to rule your life. There are lots of things you can do to feel a bit better. Remember: there’s a difference between feeling stressed every now and then, and experiencing frequent, proplonged anxiety. If the stress or anxiety is starting to take a toll and you’re looking for ways to deal with anxiety, here are some things you can do to keep anxiety at bay:
- Talk to someone about how you are feeling – Just talking to someone about how you feel can take so much weight off your shoulders. Make sure you trust the person, then decide on what you want to say to them.
- Focus on the present – Have you ever noticed that feeling stressed or anxious often coincides with dwelling on the past or worrying about the future? Simply focusing your mind on the present moment can help you feel a little more relaxed.
- Take some time out – A fully packed schedule can make you feel very stressed out. Make sure you fit in at least one thing you enjoy each day, whether it’s a hobby, a Netflix show, or a chat with a friend. It can also help if you schedule the enjoyable activity into your day, so that you don’t feel guilty about not doing something else. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, don’t be afraid to say ‘no’ to things that will just add to your stress.
- Challenge your thoughts – If your head is full of negative thoughts, of course you’re going to feel stressed or anxious. But even though your thoughts might feel true, it doesn’t mean they reflect what’s really happening. Try to write down what you’re thinking, then add facts that support or disprove each thought. You might be surprised by how many of your thoughts are not reality.
- Face your fears – If you always avoid situations that make you anxious, this might be stopping you from doing things you want or need to do. It sounds weird, but facing the things that make you anxious can reduce your anxiety. You can test whether the situation is as bad as you expect, and learn to manage your fears.
If all of the aformentioned fail, and your stress/anxiety are taking a debilitating turn, please seek professional help from a mental health/wellness facility.
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