The summer of 2020 is coming to a close and instead of planning labor day vacations and sending kids back to school, most people are setting up home offices, preparing for homeschooling, and keeping a safe distance from large public areas like airports. As the COVID-19 pandemic lingers on, creating a future of uncertainty, it’s easy to understand why so many people are struggling with anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues.
It’s important to understand the psychological impact that a worldwide pandemic can have on someone, even if you’ve always been one who could effectively manage stressful situations. Many people are feeling it — you’re not alone. However, by taking meaningful steps toward preventing anxiety, diffusing stressful situations, and recognizing when you need to seek additional help, you can finally feel more at ease and more in control, despite being in the middle of an uncontrollable situation.
If you’re struggling with worry, fear, and anxiety like so many people are, the team at Blair Wellness Center is here to help. In today’s blog, we wish to explore ways that you can effectively manage your anxiety so you can continue to live a healthy and fulfilling life, no matter what is going on around you. Keep reading to learn more.
Anxiety as a Catalyst for Other Problems
Living with anxiety is difficult enough to manage on its own, but unfortunately, it also tends to influence a multitude of other issues. Anxiety, if left unchecked, can manifest into depression, food addiction, and even substance abuse. It can make coping with everyday responsibilities more difficult and can put a strain on relationships. If you sense that your anxiety is starting to spiral out of control, it’s important to take action as soon as possible.
Natural Ways To Cope With Anxiety
People who suffer from anxiety often feel as though they have no control over their situation. Therefore, the best way to counteract this is to focus on the things that can be controlled. Although many of the suggestions listed below may seem too simple, or common sense to have any benefit, when put into practice, they can help reduce negative feelings, strengthen your body’s immune system, and allow you to feel more in control.
Breathe
The simple act of taking air into our lungs is one of the most basic functions of the human body and is fundamental to life. When you’re anxious, tension in the muscles around your chest can make breathing difficult. You may experience shortness of breath and therefore your body will respond by breathing faster. In extreme cases, the increased, laborious breathing is what is referred to as a panic attack.
When you experience anxiety, the first step toward alleviating it is to focus on your breathing. This means taking the time to stop, clear your mind, and just put all of your attention on moving air in and out of your lungs with deep, controlled, steady breaths. This sends a message to your brain to calm down, which in turn reduces heart rate, lowers blood pressure, and reduces overall stress in the body. The next time you’re feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or just stressed out, take some time to focus on your breathing and chances are you’ll notice a big difference.
Take Care of Your Body
The human body is a complicated and miraculous machine. This is especially apparent in the mind-body connection that shows us that there is a direct correlation between what we think and feel and the physical manifestations that occur as a result of them. People who encounter high levels of stress for prolonged periods of time can experience upset to their digestive system, an increase in heart attack and stroke, and several other disruptions to the physical body. Likewise, strengthening your physical body can have a positive effect on your mental and emotional state.
Taking care of your physical needs means getting sufficient quality sleep each night, getting plenty of exercise, following a healthy diet, and limiting your consumption of alcohol and caffeine. Although this may sound like just good, practical advice, when you’re coping with extreme anxiety and stressful situations, it can be easy to forget the little (and most important) things.
Focus on the Positive
We are living during a troublesome time in history, and it’s crucial that we take the time to stop and reflect on the positive in our lives. Although you may not be able to take the vacation you wanted or you’re disappointed because a special event had to be canceled or a night out isn’t what it used to be, the current set of circumstances have allowed many people to slow down a bit and enjoy more quality time with family or doing the things they previously never had time to do.
Everyone’s situation is different, and perhaps yours is particularly challenging — a loved one was lost, or you’re struggling to make ends meet. Whatever the case, there are still good things going on around you, and putting your attention on the positive is especially important during the most difficult of times.
Stay Connected To Loved Ones
Human beings are social creatures and prolonged isolation has been proven to be detrimental to mental health. Keeping your thoughts and worries to yourself or not wanting to bother other people with your problems will only make things worse. We are all in this together, and there’s never been a more important time than now to reach out and seek the love and support of others. Although social distancing can make it more challenging, you can still stay in touch through phone calls, emails, video chats, social media, and more. Staying connected helps us remember that we’re not alone, that despite everything we can still have a good laugh or share daily happenings with people who care — all you have to do is reach out.
Don’t Be Afraid To Seek Help
Sometimes despite your best efforts, anxiety can still leave you feeling overwhelmed with worry. If you’re finding it difficult to cope and it’s affecting your job or your relationships, or you’re turning to destructive behaviors to manage your anxiety, it’s important to get professional help right away. Blair Wellness Clinic of Beverly Hills offers help for anxiety disorders through a variety of psychological treatments aimed at reducing or eliminating your symptoms so you can get back to enjoying life.
We specialize in a concierge-style of treatment that is perfect for those who don’t want the hassle of dealing with insurance and instead choose to pay for services on an as-needed basis. Not only will you be able to get the help you need, when you need it, but our concierge patients enjoy priority scheduling that includes lunchtime, weekend, and evening appointments. If you’re ready to take charge of your anxiety and get the support and guidance you deserve, contact Blair Wellness Group in Beverly Hills to schedule your in-person or teletherapy appointment today.
