Steady Steps Forward
Given the turbulent nature of planet earth these past few years, you may not be surprised to learn that anxiety and other mental health disorders are on the rise. To counter this, it’s important that we make changes in our lives. Taking control of your mindset is a challenge, but it’s also a necessary step if you want to prevent panic attacks and other symptoms from disrupting your routine and plans for the future.
Identify Your Stressors
Many of the causes of anxiety are circumstantial, which can mean they’re easier to identify and eliminate from your life.
● Relationships: If your relationships, especially with the people in your household, are a source of stress, it may be necessary to take action. You can start by effectively communicating your feelings or problems to ensure that your home environment remains a sanctuary and does not contribute to your unease. There’s also the option of group counseling. Failing this, don’t be afraid to seek alternative living conditions.
● Career: Toxic working environments have caused a myriad of mental health issues for working professionals. If you’re no longer satisfied with your job, don’t be afraid to take the leap into a new field. A number of institutions allow you to obtain prestigious degrees, such as Bachelors of Science in Education, Accounting, or Nursing, fully online. This will allow you to continue working full-time to financially support your studies before you switch roles.
● Physical Appearance: Being body positive is often far easier said than done, so if your weight is causing you stress, it’s important to make changes in a healthy and sustainable way. Certain foods are known to exacerbate the symptoms of anxiety. Eliminating these from your diet and implementing a well-structured exercise routine will have you well on your way to achieving the body of your dreams.
Seek Professional Help
The benefits of reading self-help books will never outweigh the value of consulting a professional to gain control over your disorder. There are loads of coping mechanisms out there, but not all of them will work for you. A qualified therapist will assist in pinpointing the root causes of your illness and discern whether medical intervention is needed or behavioral therapies will suffice. Often, a combination of both solutions is the best approach for combating frequent panic attacks, so don’t be discouraged if treatment does not work right away.
Build a Support Structure
Having people in your life who understand your struggles is priceless. Part of effectively building a support systeminvolves taking stock of your relationships and removing those that may be contributing to your anxiety. It’s vital that you’re able to place complete trust in the people you choose to lean on in times of need.
Once you’ve opened up to those closest to you about the extent of your anxiety, be sure to let them know that you might contact them when you are feeling panicked. It may also be worthwhile to teach them grounding techniques that can be used to remedy your symptoms during an attack.
Avoid Substances
Many people use substances like cigarettes, caffeine, or narcotics to deal with the effects of anxiety. While these may temporarily relieve symptoms, long-term use could lead to an unhealthy dependency and, in the event that you can no longer access these substances, feelings of panic will skyrocket causing you to spiral out of control. It’s best to focus your energy and finances on healthy habits, like meditation, that you can draw on to calm you in moments of need.
Living with anxiety is debilitating and can often leave you feeling completely helpless. However, once you’ve worked with a therapist to identify the root causes of your stress and implemented healthy, positive changes to combat them, you’ll be well on your way to leading a panic-free life.
Having experienced a number of mental health issues myself, I’m well aware of the impact they can have on people and fully understand the support that is required during such trying times.
