Anxiety & Ways to Cope

Anxiety is a complex and often debilitating mental health condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It is characterized by excessive and sometimes irrational worry, fear, or dread, which can significantly impact an individual’s daily life and well-being.

What is Anxiety? 

• • Excessive (and sometimes irrational) worry, fear, or dread.

• • Hypervigilance: elevated heart rate, excessive sweating, cold hands, diarrhea or those butterflies in your stomach.

• • Can also impact sleep, concentration, sense of enjoyment and wellbeing.

• • Symptoms may persist despite absence or reduction of life pressures.

• • Watch Brene Brown & Oprah discussion on Perfectionism.

• • Watch and learn more about the different types of anxiety here

Despite the absence or reduction of external stressors, anxiety symptoms can persist, leading to significant distress and impairment in daily functioning. It can also affect sleep, concentration, and the ability to experience joy and pleasure in life.

What can you do about Anxiety?

One of the key aspects of managing anxiety is understanding its nature and triggers. Educating oneself about anxiety and its various forms can be empowering and provide valuable insights into effective coping strategies. 

• Educate yourself about anxiety. Read more here
• Stop using stimulants– caffeine and nicotine are stimulants that make your anxiety worse, not better!
• Track your sleep quality, food intake, and anxiety level. Are there any correlations? Knowing this will be helpful to your doctor.
• Learn some breathing and relaxation exercises– slowing down your breath is the single best thing you can do to slow down your body’s physiological response to anxiety.
• Notice your thoughts– which thoughts make your anxiety better or worse?
• Try practical exercises using worksheets like these

Want to learn more about Anxiety?

For those seeking further resources and support for anxiety, there are various options available. Reading books and workbooks that address treatment for anxiety disorders can provide valuable insights and strategies. Additionally, scheduling an appointment with a therapist who specializes in anxiety can offer personalized support and guidance tailored to individual needs.

• • Educate yourself about anxiety 
  • Check out books and workbooks addressing treatment for anxiety disorders
  • Schedule with one of our therapists