Anxiety is a normal and often healthy emotion. However, when it becomes excessive, it can interfere with your daily life. If you are struggling with anxiety, there are a number of things you can do to help yourself feel better.
Here are three methods that anyone can do to help alleviate feeling very anxious and to help them calm things down and cope better:
Box breathing
Box breathing is a simple, yet effective, breathing technique that can help you to calm your body and mind. To do box breathing, follow these steps:
Find a comfortable place to sit or lie down.
Close your eyes.
Place your right hand on your chest and your left hand on your stomach.
Inhale slowly and deeply through your nose, counting to four as you do so.
Hold your breath for four counts.
Exhale slowly and completely through your mouth, counting to four as you do so.
Hold your breath for four counts.
Repeat steps 4-7 for a total of four cycles.
As you breathe, focus on your breath and the feeling of your chest and stomach rising and falling. If you find your mind wandering, gently bring it back to your breath.
Box breathing can be done anywhere, at any time. However, it is especially helpful when you are feeling anxious or stressed.
Grounding techniques
Grounding techniques are a way to help you to focus on the present moment and to connect with your body. There are many different grounding techniques that you can try, such as:
Focusing on your senses
One grounding technique is to focus on your senses. Take a few deep breaths and then slowly scan your body, noticing what you can see, hear, smell, taste, and feel.
Naming five things
Another grounding technique is to name five things that you can see, four things that you can hear, three things that you can feel, two things that you can smell, and one thing that you can taste.
Walking meditation
Walking meditation is a type of meditation that involves walking slowly and mindfully. To do walking meditation, find a safe and quiet place to walk. As you walk, focus on your breath and on the feeling of your feet hitting the ground. Pay attention to your surroundings, but don’t try to control them. Just observe them.
Grounding techniques can be done anywhere, at any time. However, they are especially helpful when you are feeling anxious or stressed.
Talk to someone
Talking to someone about how you are feeling can be very helpful. This could be a friend, family member, therapist, or anyone else that you trust. Talking about your anxiety can help you to feel less alone and to get support.
If you are struggling with anxiety, it is important to seek professional help. A therapist can help you to understand your anxiety and to develop coping mechanisms.
Anxiety can be a difficult emotion to deal with, but there are many things that you can do to help yourself feel better. By using the methods described above, you can learn to manage your anxiety and to live a happy and fulfilling life.
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