A couple things I learned during my journey with anxiety.
Preface: I am in no way an anxiety expert. I understand that anxiety and mental illness is different for everybody. For me, anxiety was very onset at a rapid pace. It hit me like a brick wall. I do not have a history of anxiety or mental illness in my family, so this was very unexpected for me. Over time, I learned to cope with my anxiety in many different ways. This is how I learned to cope.
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Change your perspective. Think of it as a journey rather than a battle.
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Cherish and celebrate the little victories in life. Celebrate one day without anxiety. Celebrate being able to do something on your own for once. Celebrate being you.
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Find something that truly matters to you that will fill your time when you are worrying. Don't bother with pointless activities; be productive with your time.
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Remind yourself that you deserve to live normally. Who you are now may not be who you were a year ago, and that is something to celebrate.
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Anxiety does not always stem from trauma. It is important to consider all things happening in your life at the time. You may need to detox in more ways than one.
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Learn to shut the anxiety off. Bear with me, I know it is easier said than done. Think of it like shutting your phone off during a movie. Remember that there is more to your life than your anxiety, so enjoy it. Even if it is only for an hour.
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Write anything and everything that comes to your mind. Sometimes, it is nice to not talk.
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Spend time alone. Do not isolate yourself but spend time with yourself. Enjoy a nice cup of coffee with yourself, or perhaps, watch your favorite movie with yourself. Learn to be yourself by yourself.
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Submerge yourself in the outdoors. Go for a walk. Drive around with the windows down and feel the breeze on your face. Attend a yoga class. Ride a bike. Nature is very well known to bring you down to earth.
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Try the grounding method. Whenever you get that floaty feeling (No, you are not alone. We all get floaty.), stand on the cold floor in your bare feet. This works best in a kitchen, bathroom, or on wet grass. Feel the coldness beneath your feet and remind yourself that you are not numb.
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