2020 and the beginning of 2021 have been particularly unnerving, and for those who suffer from anxiety, it has been an even more difficult time. If you are feeling like this, you’re certainly not alone, and even if that is cold comfort, it is something to bear in mind. Although relieving your anxiety entirely is something that your doctor will need to discuss with you, there are some ways to help lessen it, at least a little, or, perhaps more useful, to stop it from increasing. We all cope with lockdown in different ways and here are some tips for that and anxiety in general.
Don’t Take On Other People’s Worries
We all have enough to think about without having to take on anyone else’s worries too, and as harsh as that might sound, when it comes to keeping your anxiety levels down, it’s something you need to bear in mind.
Take a moment to stop and think about the things that are causing you anxiety or if your anxiety increasing is something you are aware of. If it doesn’t relate to you and your loved ones, it really shouldn’t be something you concern yourself with right now. At some point in the future, once you are less anxious yourself, you might be able to take on additional burdens if you are planning to do something about it, but until that time concentrate on keeping yourself mentally healthy. Never doubt about reaching out to professionals if you feel like you need help. For instance, proper social anxiety treatment in Melbourne is always necessary to identify the problem and start your mental health journey.
Turn Off News Alerts
Technology is wonderful, but it can lead to added anxiety too. News alerts are an example of this. Reading the news every day might be fine – do it first thing in the morning or when you’ve finished work so you know what is happening in the world.
Whatever you do, though, make sure you turn off the news alerts that ping through on your phone. These alerts, with their scary fanfare and vibrations and fear-inducing headlines, are not good for your anxiety levels, and it’s best not to have them at all. In fact, take the news apps off your phone entirely, and you’ll feel a lot better.
Go Outside
Nature is a hugely calming influence, and if you can go outside, even if it’s just for 10 minutes to walk around your own garden, you’ll feel calmer once you do. Breathe in the fresh air and concentrate on the beauty that is all around you.
Ideally, you’ll want to include some exercise in this idea, and you can try to go for a walk or a bike ride, for example. If you’re finding it hard to get motivated, give yourself a reason to get outside; you might follow the footsteps of Michael Lerner of Los Angeles and take some beautiful photos, or perhaps you want to reach a certain number of steps, or maybe you can help a neighbour out and walk their dog. Give yourself a purpose to help push you to go out, and you won’t regret it.
Talk To Your Friends
One of the reasons that anxiety can grow is isolation, and right now, we’re a lot more isolated than we ever have been before – and often not through choice. With this in mind, if you’re starting to feel anxious and you need to find a way to reduce your anxiety, reach out to a friend.
You might not be able to meet up in person, but using the phone or video chat technologies is a good alternative, and you’ll find that being able to connect with someone will help to reduce your anxiety levels significantly.
These are a few tips that might help to stop anxiety increasing, which is important at the moment due to the high intensity of lockdown and our new way of life.
