Quick Tips To Handle Stress And Anxiety
A certain amount of stress is a normal part of life, like wanting to scream very loudly at the driver who just cut you off in peak hour traffic! Stress that leads to anxiety is not a normal part of life, ultimately sabotaging your confidence, turning your stomach into knots, and impacting your general wellbeing. This doesn’t have to hold you back, learn how to handle your stress and anxiety
“If it can be solved, there’s no need to worry, and if it can’t be solved, worry is of no use” – Dalai Lama
Stress VS. Anxiety – The link between the two
Everyone experiences stress and anxiety at one time or another. The difference between them is that stress is a response to a threat in a situation. Anxiety is a reaction to the stress.
The ambiguity of stress and anxiety has been a major cause for discussion over a long period of time – Sometimes it is a combination of factors that will trigger stress or anxiety, at times it’s something that just ticks you off and other times, without any real explanation, anxiety can hit you like a train, as if to say, “bet you didn’t see that coming.”
‘A one size fits all’ approach to handle stress and anxiety just will not work. Complex in nature, with a variety of different symptoms, causes and degrees of severity, stress and anxiety affects everyone differently; As such people will respond differently.
People are often unable to perform the day to day tasks when suffering from anxiety or symptoms of depression. Remembering that anxiety just like clinical depression is a disease – You cannot just ‘snap out of’ an anxiety attack, it must be managed, treated and monitored like any other recognised disease.
Risk Factors for Stress and Anxiety
- Physical health problems
- Relationship problems
- Employment problems
- Social isolation
- Post-natal struggles
- Drug and alcohol use
- Trauma
- Personality types
Nipping those anxious feeling in the bud not easy. Of course, sometimes you just won’t be able to, but below are some suggestions to put you on the path to some form of clarity. Gather some ideas and learn how to squash those uncomfortable sequences of stress and anxiety with these tips!
Quick Tips and Tricks to Handle Stress and Anxiety
- Eat well-balanced meals
- Limit alcohol and caffeine, which can aggravate anxiety and trigger panic attacks.
- Get enough sleep
- Breathe
- Count to 10 slowly
- Sweat, exercise
- Take 15 minutes to focus on a specific object in nature
- Read Dalai Lama quotes
https://addicted2success.com/quotes/100-dalai-lama-quotes-that-will-change-your-life/
- Positive affirmations and self-talk
Doing a lot of your own research can be really beneficial but most importantly being open, honest and willing to talk to people you trust. Two people fighting one battle is better than tackling the problem alone, there are always people willing to help you handle stress and anxiety!
Things to keep in mind
This too will pass – hopefully, a chance in years down the track to reflect on a time where you really weren’t sure why you were stressed.
Remind yourself that you’ve been here before – This isn’t the first time anxiety has reared its ugly head. But you survived last time and got through it, just as you will get through it again this time.
The Dalai Lama quote is something to keep in mind. – “If it can be solved, there’s no need to worry, and if it can’t be solved, worry is of no use”. Whenever you are faced with a problem, take time to properly evaluate the situation. Worrying rarely leads to solutions.
Before taking on board any of these tips, symptoms of anxiety should be seen to by a medical health professional. If you or anyone you know is experiencing any signs or symptoms of anxiety and depression please call Lifeline on 13 11 14. To talk more about general health and wellbeing or to book an appointment contact us on 03 9470 1010.