Anxiety is a bitch. There, I said it. I haven't really touched upon anxiety on my blog - my reasons why? 1. So many people communicate about it now, which is amazing, but I didn't want to seem as though I was following suit. 2. I was only technically 'diagnosed' with it 6 months ago, so it's still really raw and personal to me. However, I told myself I wanted to document situations in my life like this to look back on and who knows hopefully help someone along the way.
I am in no way an expert on mental health these are just what I've found work for me. It has taken me just under 5 months to have my anxiety under control, of course, some days it spirals out, that's normal, but those moments I can feel it building up I try to prevent it with these simple ways before it escalates.
Long Walks
I always read articles and blog posts on how people cope with worry and 9 times out of 10 walking is always mentioned. I can 100% see why. It wasn't as easy walking much during the winter, but since flowers are starting to grow and the sun is shining, I find walking a lot less hassle during the warmer seasons. Recently I've walked that 40-minute journey home from work and going on nice long walks on my days off down the beach. When you go for a walk you surround yourself with nature and concentrate on the atmosphere around you. If I am feeling anxious or stressed walking really helps eliminate their thoughts and opens my mind to other things.
Break Up With Phone
I can't really percentage how much my phone can give me anxiety, but it definitely has in the past and I'm sure it has for most people. Social media, the news, not being able to contact someone, all these things can trigger worry and stress. If I know I haven't got a busy day I tend to reach for my phone a lot more than when I am, so what I like to do to avoid repeatedly checking is leave it across the room from me and focus on something else. I've been reading more in the bath and leaving my phone in the bedroom, or I've turned notifications off whilst playing a game, just little things that let your brain focus purely on one thing. This might not work for everyone, but a digital detox definitely helps with anxiety (I have a post on digital detox soon).
Write It Down
Another way to control the anxiety that people suggest is writing down what is causing your anxiety and how it can be prevented. Saying things out loud or writing it down gives you a different perspective on what goes on inside your brain. I had a couple of therapy phone-calls when I was suffering badly with anxiety and depression, and from those sessions, I learnt a lot. Writing down the date, the time, what triggered the anxiety and questioning will it be relevant next month? can really open your mind to the core of what's worrying you. Keep a notebook just for your thoughts and look back on them, you'll be surprised to see the difference. Don't write them on your phone though!
Positivity
Surrounding yourself with positive people, objects and atmospheres do change the way you view everything around you. It can be as simple as refreshing your room with some daffodils, treating yourself to a slice of cake or repeatedly play The Beauty and the Beast Soundtrack. Just whatever works for you it doesn't have to be anything 'out there' just open your mind to simpler solutions. I am easily pleased and simple-minded, it doesn't take much to make me happy if I choose to be positive. A book that helped me rethink my way of life is The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving an F*ck By Sarah Knight.
Remove Toxins
I saved this one for last because I know it's probably the most challenging and something we all try to avoid and that's changing things in order to be better. Sometimes this is easy, deletes off Snapchat, done. Other time's it's a lot harder to remove toxic things from your life. Things like stressful jobs, harmful friendships, bad diets, regrets, jealousy, etc, all these affect your mental health. If you have toxic influences and bad habits, you are not going to be happy. I have a quote "nothing is permanent, don't stress yourself too much because no matter how bad the situation is...it will change". You may not realize it now, but in the long run, changing and removing toxins from your life as I'd argue from personal experience has the biggest effect on your well-being.
I hope this post was helpful to anyone going through anxiety or for anyone wanting some personal insight.
I am in no way an expert on mental health these are just what I've found work for me. It has taken me just under 5 months to have my anxiety under control, of course, some days it spirals out, that's normal, but those moments I can feel it building up I try to prevent it with these simple ways before it escalates.
Long Walks
I always read articles and blog posts on how people cope with worry and 9 times out of 10 walking is always mentioned. I can 100% see why. It wasn't as easy walking much during the winter, but since flowers are starting to grow and the sun is shining, I find walking a lot less hassle during the warmer seasons. Recently I've walked that 40-minute journey home from work and going on nice long walks on my days off down the beach. When you go for a walk you surround yourself with nature and concentrate on the atmosphere around you. If I am feeling anxious or stressed walking really helps eliminate their thoughts and opens my mind to other things.
Break Up With Phone
I can't really percentage how much my phone can give me anxiety, but it definitely has in the past and I'm sure it has for most people. Social media, the news, not being able to contact someone, all these things can trigger worry and stress. If I know I haven't got a busy day I tend to reach for my phone a lot more than when I am, so what I like to do to avoid repeatedly checking is leave it across the room from me and focus on something else. I've been reading more in the bath and leaving my phone in the bedroom, or I've turned notifications off whilst playing a game, just little things that let your brain focus purely on one thing. This might not work for everyone, but a digital detox definitely helps with anxiety (I have a post on digital detox soon).
Write It Down
Another way to control the anxiety that people suggest is writing down what is causing your anxiety and how it can be prevented. Saying things out loud or writing it down gives you a different perspective on what goes on inside your brain. I had a couple of therapy phone-calls when I was suffering badly with anxiety and depression, and from those sessions, I learnt a lot. Writing down the date, the time, what triggered the anxiety and questioning will it be relevant next month? can really open your mind to the core of what's worrying you. Keep a notebook just for your thoughts and look back on them, you'll be surprised to see the difference. Don't write them on your phone though!
Positivity
Surrounding yourself with positive people, objects and atmospheres do change the way you view everything around you. It can be as simple as refreshing your room with some daffodils, treating yourself to a slice of cake or repeatedly play The Beauty and the Beast Soundtrack. Just whatever works for you it doesn't have to be anything 'out there' just open your mind to simpler solutions. I am easily pleased and simple-minded, it doesn't take much to make me happy if I choose to be positive. A book that helped me rethink my way of life is The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving an F*ck By Sarah Knight.
Remove Toxins
I saved this one for last because I know it's probably the most challenging and something we all try to avoid and that's changing things in order to be better. Sometimes this is easy, deletes off Snapchat, done. Other time's it's a lot harder to remove toxic things from your life. Things like stressful jobs, harmful friendships, bad diets, regrets, jealousy, etc, all these affect your mental health. If you have toxic influences and bad habits, you are not going to be happy. I have a quote "nothing is permanent, don't stress yourself too much because no matter how bad the situation is...it will change". You may not realize it now, but in the long run, changing and removing toxins from your life as I'd argue from personal experience has the biggest effect on your well-being.
I hope this post was helpful to anyone going through anxiety or for anyone wanting some personal insight.
How do you control anxiety??
I find long walks and listening to music really helps me if I need to get away from things. I really need to take more breaks from my phone! Lovely post.
ReplyDeleteAlice | alicemaysnell
Anxiety is so awful, sometimes the only way I can come down from it is by letting it in and embracing it as much as possible >< by letting it come and go when it wants and stop trying to force it out, helps me to breathe for a moment, even when the thoughts keep racing and I'm desperate inside >< xx
ReplyDeleteelizabeth ♡ ”Ice Cream” whispers Clara
These are great tips! Music and a long walk is key for me :)
ReplyDeletexo, Liz
http://lipstickandconfetti.com
I love this post! I have recently cut everything toxic from my life, everything that was making me unhappy and it has changed my attitude so much. It took a lot of courage to cut certain things out but I'm glad I did! x
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for this post, I really needed that today! I have also been cutting toxic things out of my life and that really helps. Exercise is the one for me, it really helps - as does a long walk, you are so right!
ReplyDeleteHolly xo
The Art of Being Holly