These Tips Can Help You Cope Better with Anxiety
Anxiety is a feeling that many people struggle with but few want to talk about. A few common triggers are working at a job for the first time, meeting new people, presenting in front of others, or going into everyday situations feeling uptight and unable to relax. There are people who even suffer anxiety attacks where they feel like they might die just doing everyday activities. Learning to cope with anxiety takes time but there are tools and resources to support those who struggle.
Identify Triggers
Through therapeutic support, you can learn to identify triggers that set off your anxiety. Using substances can definitely trigger anxiety. When you are in recovery, you may still suffer from anxiety but you can learn how and why substances trigger it, why cravings may trigger anxiety, and learn to cope when you feel anxiety coming on. When you figure out your trigger, you should try to limit exposure to help you feel more calm.
Meditate
Meditation is good for the mind and body. Mindful meditation, when done regularly, can help train your brain to dismiss anxious thoughts when they arise. Yoga may also be helpful in getting your brain to focus on other things and to calm down racing thoughts, which can lead to anxiety.
Change Diet
Nutrition and diet have a lot to do with reducing anxiety. Supplements can help but you should talk to a doctor first to make sure none of these interfere with other medication you may be on:
- Lemon balm
- Omega-3 fatty acids
- Green tea
- Kava kava
- Dark chocolate (in moderation)
Exercise
Exercising regularly, eating balanced meals, getting enough sleep, and staying connected to people who care about you are great ways to keep anxiety at bay. When you focus on a healthy body, you are more likely to feel better and your brain will be processing things differently, keeping anxiety low.
Underlying trauma, abuse of substances, and other factors can make anxiety worse. It helps to have a focus on healing your body, mind, and spirit with therapy, recovery programs, and other means so support lowering anxiety. It may never go away completely but it can be managed with the right tools.
The Palmetto Center is based on a Therapeutic Community model. We help people learn how to live free of addiction. Our community support provides structure while trained counselors offer life skills training and therapeutic techniques to help you move past addiction. Our program provides special focus for professionals including chiropractors, nurses, doctors, lawyers, and more who need help with addiction recovery. Call us to find out more: 866-848-3001.
