50 Ways to Cope with Anxiety
When we feel really anxious about something, sometimes it can be really hard to cope! For those who have an Anxiety Disorder, coping and functioning with anxiety can be even more difficult. For myself with an anxiety disorder, sometimes I feel lost or unsure about how to best manage my anxiety and anxious thoughts. In today's blog post, I will be talking about and listing 50 different coping strategies that can be useful in coping with anxiety.
Anxiety can be really troubling! Whether it is anxiety about work, relationships or even about the current COVID-19 pandemic. Anxiety can be frightening to deal with! I have experienced it all when it comes to day-to-day anxiety. Normal anxiety can be troubling to deal with for any person and can impact one's mental health. For those who have an anxiety disorder especially, coping with anxiety can bring on many challenges.
For myself with Generalized Anxiety Disorder, I constantly worry about many different things in my life that severely impact me. I also experience really nasty, worrying thoughts especially about the "what if" scenarios and with something in my life going wrong. For others who suffer with different types of anxiety disorders, this can be very troubling in it's own way. Dealing with normal anxiety or dealing with an anxiety disorder can both be really hard.
Often times I struggle to cope with anxiety especially when my whole body feels overwhelmed. Coping with anxiety however, is possible and can be unique to each person. What is "coping" you may ask? Coping can be defined as one's ability to face a problem (in this case, it is anxiety) and minimize or tolerate the impact that it has. There are many different kinds of coping strategies that can be used to relieve and actively manage anxiety symptoms.
Below I have listed 50 different ways to cope with anxiety! I have separated each of these techniques into different categories. There are grounding/soothing coping strategies that can help bring comfort and keep a person grounded in the present moment. There are emotion-focused coping strategies which aim to identify and reduce any negative emotions. Problem-focused coping strategies are more focused on actively dealing with anxiety or any other concern. As well, there are coping strategies that can be used as more of a distraction from anxiety or any other negative emotion.
Here is my list of 50 coping strategies for anxiety:
Grounding and Soothing Coping Strategies:
- Use Fidget toys/Stress balls
- Look at Happy pictures/Memory book
- Listen to music
- Light Candles
- Have tea
- Guided mediation
- Muscle relaxation exercises
- Deep, belly breathing
- Take a bath
- 5-4-3-2-1 grounding exercises
- Guided imagery
- Do Yoga
- Use a weighted blanket
- Pet a dog or other pet
- Listen to an ASMR video
Emotion-Focused Coping Strategies:
- Journal about thoughts and feelings
- Do gratitude journaling
- Create art
- Paint about your feelings
- Write down any triggers for anxiety/stress
- Reach out to friends and family
- Utilize positive and calming affirmations
- Read inspirational stories and quotes
- Praying
- Practice mindfulness
- Write a letter
- Create a vision board
Problem-Focused Coping Strategies:
- Challenge or question any negative thoughts
- Seek professional support or advice
- Reach out to an anxiety support group
- Read a self-help book or anxiety workbook
- Create an action or safety plan
- Create a routine or schedule
Distracting Coping Strategies:
- Crafting
- Volunteering
- Video games
- Learn something new
- Board games
- Watching T.V
- Watching a movie
- Exercise
- Going for a walk
- Cleaning or organizing belongings
- Knitting
- Puzzles
- Swimming
- Dancing
- Drawing
- Play a sport
- Garden
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