Positive Coping Skills for Anxiety

Feeling anxious from time to time is normal. But for some though, people anxiety can affect their ability to live a normal life. While some can clearly pinpoint the cause of their anxious feelings, others have no idea why their heart is pounding or their mind is filled with noise, and so they flit from one thought to the next in quick succession.

The experts at Psych Blossom say that for some people, anxiety therapy can prove particularly useful when it comes to identifying the cause of their anxiety. They also say that anyone who suffers with anxiety, whether it is an ongoing issue or something that occurs from time to time, can benefit from learning some positive coping skills. Below are a few examples:

• Talking to someone you trust
• Asking for help
• Spending time with other people
• Watching TV
• Listening to music
• Painting
• Practicing yoga or Pilates
• Breathing exercises
• Going for a walk
• Baking a cake
• Meditating
• Cleaning
• Taking a bath or a shower
• Journalling
• Reading
• Playing a sport
• Spending time with pets
• Dancing
• Going for a manicure or pedicure.

The key to dealing with anxiety in a positive way is learning how to distract yourself and release any tension you are feeling. Keeping busy doing something you enjoy will help to calm you down and may make the feelings of anxiety subside.

It is also worth remembering that taking care of your mind and body is important. It is therefore essential that you maintain a healthy diet and avoid too much junk food. Keeping your blood sugars stable can have a massive impact on your energy levels as well as your mood.

Regular exercise can also have a huge positive impact on your mental and physical health. Many people who suffer with anxiety say that incorporating exercise into their daily routine has made a massive difference.

Sleep quality also plays a role in mental health. If you are not getting adequate sleep every night, it can affect your mental health. Of course, feelings of anxiety can also affect the ability to sleep.

What is Sleep Anxiety?

For some people, the act of going to sleep can bring about anxiety. For those who worry about going to sleep because they struggle to stay asleep or because they wake constantly during the night, anxiety can become a real issue. Then there are those who suffer from somniphobia (which is a fear of sleeping). It might be that they are afraid to sleep in case something bad happens or that they need to remain watchful in their home so the need to stay alert prevents them from sleeping.

Anxiety therapy is often the most helpful way to treat sleep anxiety. Treatments such as psychotherapy and cognitive behavioral therapy can help patients to make sense of their fears and what is causing them. There are also healthy coping strategies for sleep anxiety, including:

• avoiding caffeine and alcohol from late afternoon onwards
• avoiding a lot of fluids before bed
• relaxation activities before sleep, such as meditation or breathwork
• playing relaxing music or sleep sounds while you sleep.
• establishing a bedtime routine where you go to bed and get up at the same time each day
• making sure the room temperature is not too hot or too cold.

Conclusion

Anxiety is a normal part of everyday life. But when it begins to interfere with a person’s ability to perform daily activities, it is something that needs to be addressed. Thankfully, there are many ways to treat anxiety, including therapy. Experts also recommend self-help strategies that will keep you calm and hopefully distract you from the feelings associated with anxiety.