SELF HELP TIPS FOR MANAGING ANXIETY

[AGrace]

Hi Everyone,

Here are some ideas for helping you manage symptoms of anxiety. Feel free to add to the list, or let us know what works for you...

Mindfulness – Grounding exercises: noticing your environment, bodily sensations, and breath

Progressive Muscle Relaxation – Creating a Tension and Release effect with all the muscles in the body

Opposite Actions – By listening to calming music, taking a walk, talking, enjoying sunshine

Safe Place Mental Imagery – Visualising a place where you can go in your mind to feel safe

Calming Affirmations – To help recognise that the moment of panic will pass

Exercise – A valuable way to exhaust excess adrenalin built up in the body

[Moderator's note: this thread is for sharing what has worked for you to manage your anxiety. If you need support to manage your anxiety and would like to discuss this with the community, please start a new thread.

See also:

Anxiety management strategies

Worry worry worry

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[Shirty05]

Thanks so much for the response Jill. It’s a work in progress and some days are better than others. Thankfully, my employer are incredibly supportive as I learn to navigate my way through coping with anxiety.

[Jill_G]

Thats so good to hear ....anxiety certainly has it ups and downs. Take care.

[PamelaR]

Hi everyone!

So pleased there are so many of you posting your tips for coping / managing anxiety.

Many thanks to Jill G, Chloe111, Shirty, Annie-1, Tread and anyone else I've missed.

Managing anxiety is an ongoing lifestyle. It's taken me sometime to realise that just when I think I have anxiety beaten, it jumps up to say, NO.

Once I began to accept that, I've found it a little easier to manage. One of the biggest things for me is to -

change the stories I'm telling myself. Often I need the help of others to challenge my thinking. E.g. Stories like -

my hubby doesn't like the way I hang out his socks. Therefore, I'm useless, good for nothing. Blah, Off I go.

I now change it to - hubby has such a good way of hanging the socks. They dry quicker. He certainly isn't giving me a hard time at all.

Tip -

Find the cause of the anxiety. For me there is always something I've thought about - Usually my inner critic telling me how worthless I am.

Then change the story the inner critic is saying to something more realistic. Talk it through with someone to help get it clearer in your mind.

For those of you who are having troubles in the morning. Do you know why? No pressure to answer, just something for you to think about.

Kind regards

PamelaR

[Jill_G]

Hi Pamela

Morning anxiety for me is probably not knowing what the day is going to bring even though l might not be thinking it l still have a slight fear and tremble and a tight tummy.

[Jill_G]

Hi all

Just wondering if anyone has experienced tingling on lips and a strange smell and taste from anxiety. ....mostly mornings

[IreneM]

HI

I also don't feel the best in the mornings, so I now struggle up and have a cuppa outside in the early sunlight (if not sunshine at this time of year). We have an old sofa on our decking on the northeast side of the house. Lifts my mood to do more and prepare something to eat.

Irene

[Jill_G]

Thank you Irene l will give it a go

[Jill_G]

Hi Chloe

Yes the fear one is hard for me to plus the nausea at times...l have to always get out

[quirkywords]

IreneM

I am not a morning person. I found just reading your post very calming. I find the morning sunshine through the window as I sit in bed very comforting .

Quirky

[bluehorseshoes]

Hi Jill,

Yes I can say I have had my sense of smell altered by anxiety before - it seems to be heightened when it's really bad and then I'm very sensitive to all smells. Probably not a strange scent as you mention but it is weird how your senses get messed with. How have you been going with the nausea?

Bluey