15 Ways I Use to Keep Anxiety in Check

A recent speech on the stage during a wedding dinner triggered the urge to write this post. I could not reject since it was a BFF type of friend. Did I freak out?

Nope. I did not break down during the speech. On the contrary, I was as calm as sea and was even rewarded with a few rounds of applauds after that. :)

I have always had uncontrollable anxiety whenever I am doing something that I am pretty nervous about. Anxiety ate me up when I was taking my driving test, job interview with a CEO of a company I used to work for, deliver a long speech on stage and so on.

Not anymore...

How did I do it? Besides doing extensive online studies, read some books and I even spoke with interviewed a few persons in US and Japan who have had similar problem. After trying a few of those methods, I finally overcame anxiety and read on to find out the techniques I used to to overcome it.

Positive Vibes

Eliminate negative vocabulary from your speech. By just using negative words, can bring you down and when you feel down, you are more likely to have an anxiety attack. Replace those negative words with words of encouragement or simple positive words. Use them in your conversations, as well as, your inner chatter.

Do not surround yourself with people who are going to stress you out. Rid yourself of negativity by hanging out with friends who have a positive outlook, rather than ones who are pessimistic or enjoy conflict. These types of people can make you stressed, which brings even more anxiety.

Positive interaction is a must when you are going through rough anxiety. Helping others is a great cure for anxiety. Find a neighbor or a friend who needs a helping hand, and watch it work wonders for how you feel. There is no better medicine than helping other people in times of need.

Say NO to Soda

Soda is one of the worst things that you can drink during the course of the day and you should avoid this beverage at all costs. Soda contains a lot of sugar and caffeine that can exacerbate your mood and dehydrate your body of essential nutrients, causing more tension and anxiety.

Stay BUSY

A great way to keep your anxiety under control is by staying busy. With inactivity, your mind resorts to dwelling on negative issues or worries you may have. Just basic things, such as cleaning the home or washing your car can really help.

Social anxiety may affect the way its sufferers live and keep them from leaving their homes. One way to overcome this is by finding activities you enjoy, and can share with other people. When you want to spend time with others, you can enjoy your activities with them.

If you find yourself feeling overly anxious, get outside and get some exercise. Exercise has many benefits for your whole body, and a good workout can really clear your mind and help improve your mood. You do not have to head to the gym or the pool, if you do not want to. Just taking a walk can help.

This is by far the most effective for most people I know.

Sort OUT Your Stress

Make some time to list out everything that contributes to your stress. Separate the things you are able to change from those you aren't. Change what you can and try to stop concerning yourself with the things you cannot control.

Voice it OUT

Talk about your feelings of anxiety with a sympathetic and trustworthy listener. Conversing with someone supportive can help your bad thoughts go away. It's even better if you find a support system, as they can give you tips on how you can deal with anxiety.

Do Not Think Too Far Ahead

To help you cope with anxiety, stop thinking about future events that haven't occurred yet. When you think about something that hasn't happened, there is no way for you to know how it will turn out. Oftentimes, people will think negatively when they look into the future, and this causes unnecessary worry. So either only deal with the present, or change your thoughts about the future to more positive ones.

Say NO

Learn to say no. Overextending yourself can quickly drain your reserves and leave your mind racing as you try to live up to your commitments. Your refusal to put more on your plate than you can manage may cause disappointment for someone, but your mental health and well-being are most important.

Journal it DOWN

Keep an anxiety journal. There are people who have pent up stress in their minds and cannot release it. Learn how to express yourself and unload your thought into a journal, rather than letting it build up.

BREATHE

Learn to breathe deeply from your diaphragm. When you take deep, regular breaths from your diaphragm, you will increase your calming feelings and begin to relax. Focus on breathing from your midsection, near your belly button. The stomach should extend outwards, if the breath is coming from the right area.

Your breathing can be disrupted by an anxiety attack, so by trying to control your breathing, you may be able to relax. Softly count and breathe, while you let relaxation take over your body. For optimum results, try and find a nice quiet place away from others to practice this method of breathing.

LAUGH

Find some reasons to laugh at the world. You can watch a funny movie or television show and this will also take your mind off of any worries you might have to deal with. So find a comedy on the television, sit back, and do not forget to let out those laughs.

Play Soothing Music

Have you ever enjoyed listening to music and singing out loud? If you suffer from an anxiety attack, try playing your absolute favorite music and singing it as loud as you can. This is very helpful, and it will put a smile on your face. Try this next time during an anxiety attack.

You Are NOT Alone

Always keep in mind that you are not the only one struggling with anxiety. Just have a look at all the supplements available in your local pharmacy or health food store, to realize that millions of people have the same problem. The most important things is to remember that you are not by yourself and anxiety is a treatable condition.

Get Some Probiotics 

When people are battling anxiety, depression or panic attacks, they often have problems with their stomach or intestines from the stress. A good way to help your digestive system when you have anxiety is to add some probiotics to your diet or a digestive enzyme supplement. This will help keep your internal plumbing healthy and eliminate problems.

Release Your Emotion

Learn how to release anxious feelings with the help of emotional releasing techniques. Learn The Sedona Method or the Emotional Freedom Technique. These methods help you get to the root of your anxiety, and keep releasing it until you are completely relaxed. The information on these methods is either free or low-cost and can be found through a web search.

Seek Professional Help

If you frequently suffer from attacks of anxiety, don't suffer in silence. See a doctor or therapist who can help you to overcome the anxiety before it turns into other problems, such as panic attacks or generalized anxiety disorder. There are therapies and medications that will help you to overcome anxiety problems.

Seeking professional should ONLY be taken as a last resort if you have tried and failed the above techniques.

Anxiety disorder can be overcame - be brave as you march through the challenges of daily life. I have done it so could you!