4 Ways To Cope With Anxiety

Have you ever woken up and felt anxious? Almost like there is a weight on your chest that you can’t explain?  You dread starting the day and want to crawl back in bed and hide from the world around you. Do you find it hard to cope with anxiety?

This is the whisper (or yell) of anxiety trying to creep its way in.  In my own life and work as a therapist, I have found that anxiety, in some form or fashion, is something many people struggle with.  With everything happening in the world, it’s not surprising.  For some anxiety is debilitating, for others it is a small feeling that creeps in on occasion.  Whether the anxiety you experience is minimal or severe, anxiety (or any feeling for that matter) is trying to tell you something. 

When feeling anxious, it’s important to take a moment to slow down.  Notice the feeling you’re experiencing versus ignoring or judging it.   Our feelings speak to us about what is going on in our lives.  And there are a few things you can do to listen to what they are saying.

Here are some suggestions from an anxiety therapist of what you can do to cope with anxiety.  

Take a moment to pause 

We are often rushing through life.  When we slow down we can often notice a lot more things than when we are going 100 miles/hr.  Pausing is hard to do when you have things to get done.  But, slowing down for a moment can help you pay attention to what may be driving the feeling you are experiencing.

Get curious about your anxiety 

Take a moment to reflect about what is going on in your life making you feel that way.  Do you have unrealistic expectations of yourself?  Is something not sitting right with you about a conversation you had?  Are you not in agreement about what someone said or did?  Are you afraid of what may happen in the future?  Ask yourself what is going on that could be causing you to feel the way you do.

Tell yourself a better story than what you are currently telling yourself

Many times it’s not what we feel about a situation, it’s what we are telling ourselves about the situation that is driving the feeling. 

Challenge your thoughts by looking for evidence to determine whether your thought may be true (or not).   Take a big picture perspective.  Will what you are worried about matter a day, week, or month from now?  Ask yourself if you’ve gotten through something similar before?   

I’m not suggesting lying to yourself about a situation you’re in, because that’s not very helpful.  But what I would suggest is to try to step back and look at different interpretations of what is going on and tell yourself a better story.

Find a way to calm your body and cope with anxiety

When you can’t get out of your head, try to relax your body.  You can do this in many ways like deep breathing, exercise, stretching, yoga, walking, you name it.

Emotions are stored internally which means they can affect your body.  Don’t believe me.  Ask someone having a panic attack, they’ll explain it.

Here is one of my favorite strategies for calming the body: progressive muscle relaxation

Remember, noticing and learning to respond to your emotions is not a one and done situation.  It’s a constant process of “knowing thyself” and listening to what your mind and body is telling you that you need.  The more you can listen to what your feelings are telling you, the better you can be at learning what will help you in those moments of overwhelm.  

Begin Online Anxiety Therapy in Louisiana

If you are struggling to cope with anxiety and you experience moderate to severe anxiety that affects you most of the day or all day. Our caring therapists offer in-person counseling from our Alexandria and Natchitoches, LA-based practice. Not getting help for significant anxiety can contribute to many physical issues and affect your wellbeing.  Start now and discover ways to manage whatever life throws at you. 

1. Contact us to schedule your first appointment, or call us at 318-266-7021
2. Meet with a caring therapist
3. Start your journey today!

Other Therapy Services with Be Inspired Counseling

Anxiety therapy isn’t the only service provided at our Louisiana therapy practice online or in-person. We also offer trauma therapy, grief counseling, and child counseling.  In addition, we also offer couples counseling, counseling for college students, and teen counseling. Feel free to visit our consulting services, FAQ, or blog pages for more helpful info!