Millions of Americans suffer from undiagnosed anxiety disorders. Everyone has anxious or stressful moments during the course of their lifetime. However, for those who live with an anxiety disorder, each day presents new challenges. Even if things are going well, a person with this disorder will subconsciously find ways to unravel it. The good news is that there are ways to reduce anxiety’s effects and control over your life.
Completing Tasks
Anxiety often reaches its full strength when you start to feel overwhelmed. This can happen due to a deadline for a report at the office or the need for completing home renovations. The best way to prevent feeling overwhelmed and having a full-blown panic attack is to complete tasks. At the office, if you have too much on your plate, ask for help. At home, whether you are in the middle of a DIY project or have to call tile contractors to finish a renovation, put asking for help on your important to-do list.
Reduce Clutter
Clutter is something that builds up over the course of several months. All of a sudden you enter your home, take a look around and can’t believe the mess. A cluttered environment can cause anyone to become stressed. However, for someone who lives with a disorder, it can cause emotional trauma. Relax and breathe. The secret to removing the clutter is to tackle it one room at a time. Start in the kitchen and work your way through the home. As you go, create a permanent place for everything.
Exercise
Among the disorders, anxiety is the most common. Because you stress over almost anything, your body is weakened and has reduced energy while your mind suffers from an overload of emotions. Thankfully, there’s something that can perk you up and provide relief. Exercise, in any form, keeps your body’s internal organs functioning properly. It also enhances your brain’s memory, ability to focus, and even calms racing thoughts. You can take a brisk walk after dinner or sign up at a gym to take Barre or Pilates classes.
Meditation
For some, meditation sounds too good to be true. You relax and you feel better. Meditation is something perfected over time and its effects are beneficial to the relief of stress and anxiety. When done correctly, meditation teaches you to focus on breathing techniques and dismiss all thoughts occurring in the brain. This allows you to achieve a true sense of calm. While it’s only temporary, it’s quite effective.
Helping Others
Giving your life purpose often helps to reduce the symptoms of anxiety. Doing things like volunteering at the local food bank, homeless shelter or even providing free tutoring lessons to a neighborhood kid can make you feel content and happy. When you volunteer, you also reduce some of the voids in your life, which for anyone living with an anxiety disorder, helps.
Just Say NO
Many people set themselves up for anxiety by lacking the ability to say no. Their co-worker needs help with a project, they do all the housework, tend to the kids’ after school activities and prepare a real dinner every night. It would be exhausting for anyone. In this case, the inability to say no causes stress. If this sounds like you, learn to set limits when helping others and have family members contribute to the workload at home.
Take Up a Hobby
Hobbies are very soothing and, in many cases, gratifying. For instance, if you enjoy making crafts, do it as a hobby. When you complete 10 items, list them for sale either on Craigslist or on sites such as Etsy. Taking up a hobby will engage your mind constructively.
Mental health affects millions of people in the United States. If you live with an anxiety disorder, you can find some comfort in knowing that there are real ways to keep it under control and make the most out of each day.