Things To Help With Anxiety

2021 has been the worst year of my life. I couldn't tell you one good thing that's happened as it's been a constant plethora of worry, stress, sadness and struggles. I've noticed in the past few weeks that my anxiety has gotten worse and I have no shame in saying that days can be tough. I wanted to share things to help with anxiety, for anyone else who is feeling like I do.

Going on a daily walk really helps to ease my anxiety - for the time I'm walking at least. I usually drop my boys to school and head off on a walk, listening to music through my ear phones. Going on a walk at this time means for me that I've begun my day in a positive way and it makes me hope that the rest of the day will be positive too.

Nature has been my solace through the depression and anxiety I've experienced in my life. Spending time surrounded by nature is so good for you, it's what humans were meant to do. I love going to woodlands, beaches or beautiful gardens and just enjoying the beauty around me. It helps to ease my anxiety and the trips I plan to these places give me something to look forward to too.

When you suffer from anxiety, you can become too caught up in your present worry. It can consume you so much that you can think of nothing else and it's actually crippling. One thing I've started doing in these moments of crippling anxiety is thinking ahead to things I'm looking forward too - all simple little things that bring me joy. I look ahead to the different flowering seasons and remember the great sights I'm going to see again if I just keep powering through this awful time. It helps.

Taking social media breaks is also a great way to help ease anxiety. My job is immersed in social media and I wasn't getting the break from work that people with more traditional work spaces would, this was becoming detrimental to my mental health. I'm now taking the time to shut off, not compare myself to others online, try to keep up with content, etc. and enjoy other things such as reading, gardening, etc. Just taking this time for myself can help with my anxiety.

Speaking to your doctor is also a good thing to help with anxiety, especially if you feel like it's taking over your life. I have felt like this and it's awful, but speaking has helped me. There is no shame in having a mental health problem - you wouldn't sit at home with a broken bone and not seek medical attention, so why suffer when you're mentally in pain?

Living with anxiety is terrible, it has almost broken me, but I am doing my best to combat this and try to heal myself.

I do not wish anxiety on anyone, it makes already stressful situations a hundred times harder and can make it difficult to even function day to day with small tasks. If you feel this way please seek help. Things will get better and anxiety does not have to control our lives.

Look after your mental health as you would your physical health and do what you need to do to feel better in yourself.