Steps to Anxiety Relief

So, I just spent an hour writing this perfect post and right before I published it... DELETED! Ahhh, yep my stress level went up so let's try this list again. Here is a list of steps to anxiety relief.

1. Self-Awareness:

The first step to overcoming anxiety is self-awareness. Self-awareness is conscious knowledge of one's own character, feelings, motives, and desires. It's the ability to perceive aspects of our personality, behavior, emotions, motivations, and thought process without self criticism. It's understanding the situation and being able to face it head on. Understanding that anxiety is a part of us, our lives and being able to breakdown the aspects of how it affects us or how we have the effect on it.

2. Self-Belief:

It's easy to think that you will never feel any different, especially in the midst of a panic attack. However, there has to come a point where you believe in yourself and that life can be better for you. Yes, I know, easier said than done. We have to get out of this negative mind frame of allowing our anxiety to have full control of us. Do NOT let anxiety win. We are in control, our minds are in control. Start thinking positively, pushing out positivity and believe that life is better than what we feel in our state. When you dwell on negative things, it allows us to feed that negative wolf, that evil wolf and then that wolf becomes stronger and more overpowering until that's the dominant way of thinking. Feed the good wolf that positive energy and positive self-talk so that becomes the dominant wolf and way of thinking.

3. Changing your habits:

Consciously changing small habits each day that gradually build up over time. Small changes here and there have the ability to multiply which can lead to a whole new lifestyle. This can be journaling for example. I have mentioned that one of the things that seemed to trigger my anxiety was sugar. So one of the small habits that I worked on was cutting out soda, sugary cereals, sugary drinks, and candy. Since I have eliminated those items, I have noticed a huge difference in the way I feel and how my mind feels throughout the day.

4. Adopt Mindfulness:

Stop being mindfulLESS! Mindfulness is a simple practice, often overlooked by many. The power of mindfulness allows you to reconnect with yourself on a more conscious level. One of the best mindful techniques that I learned in therapy was eating. Yes, the simple task of eating a meal... these days, we are so distracted by our phones or television, so busy at work, busy with our kids; so much so that we are not eating mindful. We do not pay attention to what we are eating or how much we are eating because we are usually in a rush. Not paying attention to eating can cause us to over-eat, lead to stomach or digestive issues, gain weight and just not feel good. Next time you sit down for a meal, give yourself some time. Turn your t.v. off, put your phone away, sit at the table and relax. Pay attention to the smell of your food, the taste of it, the texture and how satisfying it feels to eat that meal. Pay attention to your cues of when you are full. Also, take in the silence or listen to yourself chew and allow all other thoughts to leave your mind for that one meal. Do this daily and I promise you will notice a huge difference in your life and how you feel.

5. Look fear straight in the eye:

The fastest way to overcome your fears that come with anxiety is to face them, head on. Of course, this is another "easier said than done", however, it's never as bad as you think it will be. Figure out what feeds your anxiety, what are your deep fears? Write them down and accept that they are there. Acknowledge them and then put them behind you. We are always going to have fears, they are always going to be there but most of the time, I don't think we really acknowledge what they are and sometimes don't realize what they are.

6. Maintenance:

Just like losing weight, keeping a healthy mind requires maintenance. It's about adopting a whole new lifestyle that keeps you balanced for the long haul. We HAVE to keep working on us and pushing forward. I continue to seek new information, new techniques and new natural therapy to share with you all. We can do this, we can live happy and normal lives. Anxiety is always going to be a part of us, but we do not have to let it overpower us. We are in control! We are safe, we are capable, we are okay, we are healthy and we are living.