Anxiety: Tips for Keeping Control

I’m sitting here typing this post on a beautifully sunny Sunday morning, on the brink of Spring; a time for new beginnings, birth and life. I am warm, with my children, and for now, we are safe.

With that in mind, it can be really difficult to fathom how anxiety could feature in my life today; until you begin to look around at the world we are currently in.

Climate change is really beginning to show its effects, with the whole worlds’ weather becoming more volatile and intense. Covid-19 has caused immeasurable change and suffering for so many- not only physically, but mentally too. Now, we find ourselves further into the darkness, with the ever-growing possibility of World War 3 erupting.

Almost everywhere you look, there is pain and suffering. People seem to have become so much more entitled, selfish, and spoilt. Children are going around carrying weapons and killing each other, drugs have flooded our society, and the economy is crippling everyone-except the rich. We are told to follow the rules, and then watch as those that make them flout them without reprimand.

All these things happening simultaneously have really given my anxiety an unhelpful boost. And that’s putting it mildly. So I have tried to come up with a few tips and tricks to keep anxiety under control, so I don’t lose it.

Gratitude

No matter how small, there is always something in your life to be thankful for. And whilst it’s a huge cliché, it’s true.

Look around you. For me it’s my children; they bring me so much joy and happiness, and they make me feel love on a level I didn’t know was possible. For that, I am forever thankful.

It’s also really important to find the little everyday things that you can be thankful for. The sun shining outside, no queue at the supermarket, or being able to sit and have a nice cup of tea or coffee in a warm, dry place. No matter how small, find something every single day that you can be thankful for.

Hobbies/Interests

When anxiety is kicking my proverbial backside, I find that immersing myself in something I love doing help to take the edge off a little. Even when I don’t believe it will help, I do it anyway, as I know it’s most likely my anxiety and depression trying to suck me down further into the abyss.

Whatever your interests are, pursue them. Music has always been such a great healer for me. It can literally change my mood. I notice my mood worsens and my anxiety and depression worsen when I haven’t had the opportunity to listen to my music for a while. I’m still trying to work out whether that’s a people thing, or a Neurodivergent thing…

Exercise

Urgh… even the word is enough to spark fresh anxiety in me. And yet, I find that a nice walk in the fresh air on a sunny day, will never not make me feel better. This has been made a little trickier recently with the weather and my deteriorating health, but I’m still determined to try.

Find a form of exercise you can do that you can enjoy. It might be gardening, walking, swimming, or dance. It doesn’t necessarily have to be working until you throw up in the gym.

Be Brave

This is easier said than done isn’t it! When you avoid what makes you anxious, it provides some relief short-term but can make you more anxious and create more problems longer-term. To combat this, every day, try to approach something that sets off your anxiety; even in a small way. Keeping anxiety under control happens by learning that what you fear probably isn’t going to happen, and if it does, you will be able to deal with it.

Talk

This can be one of the hardest ones to do. It can be very difficult admitting that you have a problem- with anything! Anxiety sadly still carries a lot of outdated stigmas with it. Mental health in general still carries a lot of outdated stigmas. Yet talking to someone you trust about your anxiety can often help to alleviate some of the symptoms. Sometimes solace can be found in a complete stranger, such as those wonderful volunteers at organizations such as Samaritans, Mind, and Anxiety UK.

Find Your People

I cannot stress this enough. Peer support can be invaluable when living with anxiety. The digital world is often portrayed as the enemy, but it can also help manage your anxiety if you look in the right places. Forums, specialist sites, and even social media groups can all point you in the direction of like-minded people. Talking through your anxiety struggles with people that ‘get it’ helps to alleviate one of the biggest demons: the feeling that you’re alone. A simple Google search for anxiety support brings up a plethora of sites you can explore.

Be Kind

Lastly, I want you to remember to be kind to yourself. Don’t get bogged down in the never-ending cycle of comparing yourself to others; you’re not in their shoes, you’re in your own. Many people with anxiety are also suffering from sometimes multiple health conditions. That can be an immense struggle on its own. When you factor in mental health on top, and then the current world situation, it’s no wonder our anxiety is off the scale.

Whilst I don’t have the answers, I do know that whatever your personal struggle, YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Seek help, seek happiness, and don’t let the darkness win. It’s not worth it.

Laura x