7 Ways to Calm Your Anxiety

Are you feeling anxious? You are not alone. It can be overwhelming to have anxious thoughts, uncontrolled emotions, and feel unlike yourself. Anxiety has a unique way of entering our minds, and before we know it, our thoughts bombard us with worry.  It impacts our bodies in various ways, as well. Some signs of anxiety are an upset stomach, headaches, increased heart rate, panic attacks, nervousness, and tiredness. However, there are some practical tips to do daily to assist with hitting the reset button.  You can do these activities as many times as needed:

1.    Put water on your face 

-If you are unable to water on your face, you can let it run over your hands.

 2.   Get outside - Vitamin D is good

Fresh air is an excellent way to take a much-needed moment and change your surroundings. Also, it is a great way to access Vitamin D, which can help with your mood.

3.    Breathe deeply

Taking big, deep breathes is vital to tell your brain; let’s calm down and relax.

4.    Speak kindly to yourself

Take a moment to encourage yourself. How we talk to ourselves influences our thoughts, actions, and behaviors. So, telling yourself, “you are ok,” “you are enough,” “you are doing the best you can,” tell yourself, “you are loved.” 

5.    Visualize your favorite memory

Thinking of a fond memory has a way of relaxing our muscles and even putting a smile on our faces. 

6.    Pray

Prayer can lower one’s heart rate and cortisol levels. It can improve one’s mental health overall. It’s a connection to faith, and God helps with providing inner peace.

7.    Meditate 

Being still can be rewarding. Meditation reduces stress, boosts emotional well-being, and enables self-awareness.

Remember, you are not alone, and you are valued! Hopefully, one or more of these tips can become tools to calm anxiety. Be gentle with yourself because you matter!  

Resources:

Bartkowski, J. P., Acevedo, G. A., & Van Loggerenberg, H. (2017). Prayer, meditation, and anxiety: Durkheim revisited. Religions, 8(9), 191.

National Alliance on Mental Illness (n.d.) https://www.nami.org/Home