Tips for Dealing with Anxiety
Anxiety – eek! Where do I even begin with this topic?! Anxiety is something I first started recognizing in my late teen years. I suppose it’s something that’s always been an underlying issue for me; I remember staying awake, having sleepless nights, when I was worried about something. However, it wasn’t until college that it really started to affect my everyday life. After my first year of college I went through lots of changes; my family dynamic shifted, I left a long-term relationship, and I fell in to the pressures of college partying. I wouldn’t sleep for days before I had big tests, and I was homesick more often than not. However, instead of talking about these feelings, I would either joke about them or suppress them completely. Eventually, it got to the point where I decided to see my doctor. I remember sitting in her office crying and saying, “Nothing is really wrong, I don’t know why I feel this way,” and I really didn’t know why I felt that way. Just like that, I was prescribed medicine for anxiety.
After being on the medicine for a couple of years, I decided I no longer wanted to take it. There is nothing wrong with taking medicine to help cope with anxiety, but for me personally I knew there were other ways I could handle it and deal with it. I turned directly to medicine before I ever even tried any other strategies. I was studying nutrition at the time, yet I still didn’t really realize the impact food played in my overall wellness. Although I knew alcohol was a trigger, I continued to drink most weekends and ignored the anxiety that would come along with those horrible hangovers. It wasn’t until I graduated college and was distanced from that environment that I started honoring my feelings instead of disregarding them. I don’t know if it’s because I was completely removed from that environment or because I just grew up some; but regardless, I want to share some of my top tips for dealing with anxiety. Anxiety is something I will always deal with, and I can either let it overtake me and ruin my day or cope with it the best way I know how and move forward. I also realize each individual is completely different, and some of these tips may or may not work for you.
1. Be true to yourself. First and foremost, always do what is best for yourself when it comes to dealing with your anxiety. I think that was my biggest problem a few years ago when my anxiety really starting getting bad. I always wanted to please others, and I was scared of having FOMO if I stayed in one night instead of going out. This is absolutely no ones fault but my own. I am now at a place where if I feel uncomfortable in a situation I simply remove myself from it, and to be honest most people are completely okay with that.
2. Eat whole foods. It is crazy the difference I see in my body when I eat fresh foods versus processed or over sugary foods. After a big greasy or sugary meal I feel a bit shaky and my mind gets brain fog. This brain fog typically makes me a bit lazy and doesn’t allow me to focus on things I had planned for my day. When I don’t accomplish the things I plan for the day that can lead to stress and anxiety. It is a no brainer for me to pay attention to how I’m fueling my body.
3. Avoid alcohol in excess. This is an obvious one for me. I’m 25 years old - yes I like to have a drink with dinner, and yes sometimes I like to have more than one drink. However, I always keep in mind how too much alcohol makes me feel. One too many glasses and the next day I feel anxious, homesick, and completely defeated. So in the end why even put myself in that situation?
4. Meditation. Meditating has become a part of my everyday ritual. It doesn’t always mean I’m on a yoga mat sitting with my legs crossed and candles around me. Some mornings it’s just sitting on my balcony having my cup of coffee before the sun rises. Other days it doesn’t happen until 3pm. If I begin feeling overwhelmed I know to just take a break and breathe for a few minutes.
5. Get outside. There is nothing as refreshing as going for a walk outside. It’s totally free and provides instant clarification to breathe in some fresh air and stretch your legs out. Nature has a way of soothing the soul.
6. Essential Oils. Essential oils are something I very recently started incorporating in to my wellness routine. Some oils known to help with anxiety include peppermint, frankincense, and chamomile. My personal favorite is lavender. I spray it on my pillows every night to help calm my mind.
7. CBD Oil. CBD oil is a trendy product right now. I have personally benefitted from taking this particular “balance blend” from Cordial Organics. There are many products on the market right now, it’s important to do research and see what might work the best for you!
8. Call someone to talk about it. I used to think I was the only person who dealt with anxiety. Normal situations that don’t bother other people (traveling, social events, etc.) would disrupt my sleep pattern for a whole week! It felt odd to me that this stuff gave me anxiety, so I would keep it to myself. Now I pick up the phone to call my sister, mom, grandma, best friend, whoever! You don’t have to make a big deal about it – just saying how you are feeling out loud and moving on with the conversation can help so much.