4 Ways to Reduce Anxiety When You’re Overwhelmed
Anxiety affects people from all walks of life, backgrounds, age groups and more. While we may all feel slightly anxious from time to time about deadlines, responsibilities, or our lives, but having an anxiety disorder is different.
Anxiety disorders can be completely overwhelming and can make day-to-day life so difficult to get through. As a result, if you are suffering from anxiety, then you may be looking for ways to reduce anxiety yourself. That’s where we come in handy. Read on to find out how to reduce anxiety when you’re overwhelmed.
But first...
What Is Anxiety?
Anxiety may be described as a feeling of worry, fear, and unease. This could range from severe to mild. This can make seemingly simple things, such as heading to the store, running errands, getting out of bed, or going to work so difficult.
Anxiety disorders can manifest themselves in many different ways. For instance, you could have general anxiety, social anxiety, an obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic anxiety disorder or others.
The important thing to note is that everyone suffers from anxiety in different ways. However, there are some common signs and symptoms to watch out for. For instance, these may be:
Feeling weak or tired & lethargic
Sweating
Worrying
Trembling
Difficulty sleeping/oversleeping
Rapid breathing
Increased heart rate
Restlessness
Feeling tense or nervous
Difficulty concentrating or focusing
Avoidance of things that could trigger anxious thoughts
Negative thoughts
4 Ways to Reduce Anxiety When You’re Overwhelmed
One of the most difficult aspects of having anxiety is how it can overwhelm you so easily. It can make you feel stressed out, and that everything is piling up. This is why it is so important for you to know methods and strategies to help you calm down and refocus your mind.
Luckily, we have some techniques that you can try to relax, relieve stress and lessen feelings of anxiety.
Practice Deep Breathing Exercises
One of the best ways to calm down when you feel overwhelmed is to practice some deep breathing exercises. Try to breathe in deeply through the nose, hold in your breath for a short while, and exhale deeply through the mouth. This can help you refocus your thoughts and pay more attention to your breathing rather than the worry at present.
Take a Walk
It can be helpful to take a short walk without any distractions. Leave your phone at home, and just be alone. Take a walk through nature and blow off some steam.
Exercise can also be beneficial in reducing stress, as you will release endorphins as you walk. It doesn’t have to be a long walk. It can be a short walk around the block to help you refocus your thoughts or struggles and have a chance to break them all down into solutions.
Look After Yourself
You have to remember to be kind to yourself, and practice self care. Try to take time for yourself to do the things you love, such as reading a book, taking a long bath, or hanging out with friends and cutting loose. You also have to try to be more positive towards yourself.
Praise yourself for your accomplishments, and think about your achievements rather than focusing on negative things going on, to help realign your thoughts and make them become positive thoughts rather than negative.
Talk to Someone
Finally, you should talk to someone about your struggles, and about what is bothering you. This could be a trusted friend or family member that you feel you can open up to. It’s vital that you do not bear your burdens alone.
We also recommend that you speak to a licensed counselor or therapist for guidance. We can give you the tools and resources to work on your negative feelings and support you when you feel overwhelmed by your anxiety. Reach out to us to learn more about anxiety therapy.