Anxiety disorders affect over 18% of our population. Do you often feel concerned about things you really have no control over? Does the uneasiness you feel remind you of a ball and chain? What are you willing to do to break free from your anxiety? Today, we will cover the causes of anxiety and tips to help deal with and conquer the disorder.
What Is An Anxiety Disorder?
An anxiety disorder is a common mental illness defined by feelings of uneasiness, worry, and fear. Anxiety comes in multiple forms, including Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Social Phobia, Panic Disorder, and more. To be able to identify which anxiety you’re dealing with, you can visit your doctor or even take this quick test. One common sign of an anxiety disorder is excessive worrying. Others include sleep problems, irrational phobias, or the sudden onset of panic, difficulty breathing, trembling, nausea, sweating, and more.
How to Relieve Anxiety
If you have concluded that you have anxiety problems, it’s important to know how to cope with these feelings. There are many ways to ease your worries, but you need to know how. Taking the time to be intentionally mindful, meditate, getting a massage, practicing yoga, or even learning relaxation techniques are all excellent ways to calm your anxiety. Eating balanced meals and taking doctor-recommended vitamins can eliminate nutrient deficiencies as a potential anxiety trigger. Burning excess cortisol (the stress hormone) by participating in gentle physical activity like walking or swimming can be greatly helpful as well. You may also want to swap out your daily caffeine fix for something else–caffeine is a known trigger for panic attacks. Avoiding drugs and alcohol is also important.
When you feel uneasiness coming over you, take deep breaths and count down from 10. Acceptance is important; knowing you can’t control everything helps keep you sane. The last tip I offer is learning what triggers your worries. Finding the specific patterns behind your anxiety disorder can help you prevent and prepare for future spirals.