I’m certainly not a medical physician or mental health professional. I am however a human being that has been living with a Generalized Anxiety Disorder diagnosis since my mid 20’s. With that, I bring the experiences that I can share to help you craft up a way to work on managing anxiety when stress or crisis hits.
Did you know that over 40 million people in the United States suffer from anxiety? It might feel like you are alone and no one understands the feelings you go through, but know you are not alone.
A lot of people don’t get that you can’t just stop thinking about the issue at hand that is eating at you. If it was that easy anxiety wouldn’t exist. I have some anxiety life hacks to help you work through and try to overcome your anxiety attacks in those hard moments.
Every person is different, so what works some won’t work for others. There is an answer out there to help you in overcoming your anxiety. Whether it is a fear of failure, being alone, fear of getting sick, finances, and the list goes on.
When it comes to handling everyday life situations, you’ve probably managed your anxiety in a variety of ways. You have started to predict your daily life and what could happen so you’re pretty prepared in managing anxiety with everyday life, but what happens when a crisis hits?
Whether this crisis is extreme weather, natural disasters, death, or a virus taking over the world, new crises can make your anxiety go through the roof. When anxiety is high, your ability to function traditionally is crippled.
Tips to Manage Your Anxiety During a Crisis
Today I’m showing you some ways you can start to manage your anxiety during a crisis to hopefully overcome the worst part of your anxiety symptoms such as depression, intense fear, and worry.
Count Breaths and Meditate
Meditation doesn’t have to be a situation where you sit down, cross your legs, and hum. No that’s not what meditation involves. You can use music and other guided meditation apps or Monthly Streaming Programs to help find your balance during a crisis.
While meditating, be sure to count your breaths to slow down the pace of your breathing. These two actions help calm anxiety and bring your mind thoughts down to a more manageable place.
Consult a Physician
While the virus is around during our current climate, many insurance companies are now allowing you to use a virtual appointment. Whether you call your PCP or a mental health doctor, there are many apps and virtual meeting options to have a remote appointment to discuss your anxiety with a physician. Reaching out to a physician who specializes in anxiety will help you find new ways to manage your situational anxiety.
Take a Walk
I know that many of us are scared to leave our homes, and for those in the “hot spots” around the country, I understand. You don’t have to leave your property to manage anxiety by taking a walk.
You can walk around inside the house or your yard to help calm your breathing and relax your mind. Just a short 20-minute brisk walk can calm anxiety and the fresh air will do your health some good.
Call a Friend
Chances are that your friends and family understand your anxiety and are more than willing to be that shoulder to lean on so to speak with a phone call chat.
You can do a virtual meeting chat with Zoom or Google Meet, or just use your cell phone for a voice chat. Whatever is most comfortable for you is what matters, because calling a friend is supposed to ease your anxiety not make it worse.
Start Laughing
Whenever anxiety hits me or stress starts to creep in, my blood pressure starts going up into the danger levels. I hate that my hypertension is a never-ending battle, but now that I’m aware of how my blood pressure responds to anxiety and stress, I’m better at managing this situation.
When crisis hits or stress gets too high I surf Instagram and YouTube for funny animals. I get a good laugh in and start to feel calm because laughter truly is the best medicine.
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You don’t have to do any of these recommendations for your anxiety. Of course, you can opt to sit at home, sink deeper into fear and sadness or you can try to use some of my ideas while consulting a physician to determine if you have situation anxiety or some deeper form of anxiety that may require therapies.
I simply wanted to share some of the fun ways I’ve worked to manage my anxiety during a crisis. I feel we can all gain knowledge from each other when we opt to share experiences and ideas that help each of us live a content lifestyle.
I hope that you’ll use these ideas to help you craft up a plan to ease the burden that anxiety places in your life.
20 Life Hacks to Overcome Anxiety
- Fidget Cubes or Spinners to occupy your mind.
- Find someone who you can trust and listens to talk to.
- Focus on deep breathing when you find your anxiety attack is beginning.
- Read self-help books that are anxiety focused.
- Coloring books for adults is a great stress reliever.
- Try eating healthier and drinking more water. A well-rounded meal can make your more balanced.
- Cut out sugar and caffeine in your diet, both can heighten anxiety.
- Try out essential oils to help relieve anxiety.
- Take up a hobby to try and occupy your mind.
- Try a weighted blanket.
- Look for games on your phone to play to try and distract your mind.
- Pray, meditate, or try breathing techniques to help center your mind and body.
- Start an anxiety diary, when you find yourself struggling, grab a pen and paper, then write out how you are feeling. It can be a safe place and help you feel a release of emotions.
- Remind yourself that there are so many people who feel and go through the same emotions, you are not crazy, and you are not alone.
- Make sure to get enough sleep each night, running on little sleep heightens anxiety and stress levels.
- Speak 10 positive attributes about yourself in your mind. This is a great way to remind yourself of how awesome you are.
- Find some prayers to read to help remind you that God is in control and these feelings of doubt will pass.
- Find positive people to surround yourself with to help keep you inspired.
- Try to do something fun to lift your spirits.
- Exercising can help reduce your anxiety and stress levels and help you feel more relaxed.
When it comes to handling everyday life situations, you’ve probably managed your anxiety in a variety of ways. You have started to predict your daily life and what could happen so you’re pretty prepared in managing anxiety with everyday life, but what happens when a crisis hits?
You can and will overcome, it can just take time and some work.
