Not so fun fact about me: I have anxiety….. And it could get really bad.
Like anyone else who experiences strong symptoms of anxiety, I look for virtually anything to relax my racing mind, get a full nights rest or simply rid myself of all the excessive (and unnecessary) worrying for a little while. There’s been A LOT going on lately and the panic has been real! But despite it all, I’ve been managing. I think I’ve pretty much mastered all the conventional techniques (breathing exercises, counting, etc.), but here are a few additional ways I’ve been able to help myself through…
Drink Tea
At any given moment you might catch me enjoying a nice calming cup of hot tea. Blueberry or Passionfruit in the morning, Chai or Matcha in the afternoon and Chamomile, Mint or Rose at bedtime. But when anxiety strikes, Lavender or Hemp Flower teas are my only go-to options. There’s nothing more soothing than the right herbs when you need it most. And if you’re a fan of Hemp or CBD products, Jlexillc.com literally has all you need. Plus, a little birdie told me that they’re concocting a nice recipe for a Lavender+CBD tea combined, and TRUST ME, YOU NEED IT!
Color
I absolutely love coloring. It’s something extremely satisfying about seeing the pages in my adult coloring book come to life. It’s like every stroke with my pencil gives me a small sense of relief. I also found that coloring apps, such as Happy Color, work just as well for me. But really, anything to get your hands moving would suffice. Try using blocks to build something, play an instrument, put a puzzle together or learn to sew, crochet or knit.
Watch Satisfying Videos
Whether you’re into ASMR, Mukbang or sand cutting, there’s a social media platform that has exactly what you need (Facebook, TikTok, Instagram and YouTube are literally swarming with these types of videos!). I personally favor nail polishing and pimple popping videos (ooooh how I Love pimple popping videos! I can literally watch anything gross that involves pus and blackheads ALL DAY!). It’s very easy to get lost in this content. You’ll forget you were were ever anxious in the first place.
Play With Toys (no, not those kind)
Unleash the kid in you and bring out the toys! There are so many gadgets you could use to help relieve you of all the unwanted anxiousness, and they’re so satisfying! My favorites happen to be magnets (rolling them around in my hands), my fidget dice or cloud slime. Some people enjoy liquid timers, Rubik’s cubes or stress balls. But you should get a feel for what gadgets might work best for you.
Listen to Nature Sounds
One thing I love is a dark and stormy night. Who else finds the sounds of rain and thunder to be the single most calming thing of all? Or maybe the rushing sounds of a waterfall or leaves rustling in the wind? Not only does this audio help with anxiety and stress relief, but it’s totally relaxing and could aid in a great nights sleep. There are a host of apps you can download, and thousands of YouTube video that offer this. And if you’re an Amazon Prime member, these 9 hour sleep audios are yours, free.
Exercise
Ok, so I haven’t exactly conquered exercising yet, but I do know that it’s one of the more effective ways to battle anxiety and stress. With anxiety, it’s very easy to get caught up in your thoughts. But exercise, in addition to the aforementioned techniques, serve as an easy distraction. You’ll also notice better sleep patterns and a happier mood overall. In my research, I found that the type of effective exercises may differentiate with the type of anxiety you experience. But generally speaking, yoga, hiking and running are best.
Pray & Talk to Others Dealing With a Similar Issue
No matter what aspect of anxiety you deal with, talking to God or others that suffer from the same triggers could prove to be quite beneficial. Hearing what helps might help you too!
And remember, there is absolutely NOTHING wrong with therapy and medication! If you find that you need to incorporate medical assistance in your journey to control anxiety (or anything else you might be experiencing) then by all means, do it! Let go of the idea that only “crazy” people seek therapy. We all have at least one common goal, and that’s to be mentally and physically healthy ❤️.
How do you control your anxiety? Let’s helps others by leaving a comment below!
XO,
Lexi 💋
