Fear is a natural human response to things that seem dangerous or generally upsetting. Anxiety can differ when it interferes with your daily life. It can creep up on a person at any moment, particularly when they already struggle with their mental health. Looking for ways to cope with anxiety can seem overwhelming, but it is doable.
Triggers can vary from places, days, situations to even memories. The workplace is often a significant factor in feeling stressed and anxious. For example, veterans are known to suffer from mental health issues due to the trauma that often comes with their work – see VA disability for anxiety to find out more information.
4 Ways to Cope with Anxiety
If you want to combat your anxiety and take more control of your life, finding coping mechanisms that work for you is an excellent way to start. You may need to try several methods before finding one that does the job. Don’t feel disheartened. It can be a lengthy process. However, it will enable you to do the things you want and manage your emotions in the process.
Breathe
Meditation and breathing exercises in the moment can help prevent any hyperventilating. You will take back a little of that control by allowing yourself a sense of personal balance. If you learn how to breathe better and can continue to focus on slow breathing, you may also be able to distract your mind from the trigger and minimize or negate the anxiety attack.
It can take a lot of practice, but in time, you might be able to focus on breathing as soon as you recognize a trigger, which will allow you to stop your anxiety before it even gets started
Identify Your Triggers
For you to combat your anxiety on a long-term basis, it’s helpful to find out why these attacks occur. You might have been subjected to a traumatic situation where you now associate certain things with negativity. This can cause a lack of emotional regulation. Knowing the triggers may not be enough, as you would also have to work through them, but it can be a significant step towards regaining equilibrium.
Face Problems
It can be incredibly tempting to start avoiding any situations where your anxiety may spike, particularly if you have already identified your triggers. This can cause more harm than good. By avoiding, you might be increasing the likelihood of anxiety attacks if you find yourself unaware. Going against this avoidance and still allowing yourself in potential situations means that you will need to deal with your emotions. Repeated exposure can help you feel less anxious over time.
Shift Your Thoughts
When you feel your breathing change, heart rate, or skin starting to become clammy, you must put some coping methods into place. Some people find it helpful to count to 10 repeatedly, while others might think about prime numbers or even recite text passages from memory. Unlike avoidance, these methods of thought shifting will let you self-regulate at the moment but not try to brush the overall issues away.
Dealing with anxiety isn’t fun, but you must do so. You may also wish to consider speaking to a medical professional for extra support.
