Anxiety is a signal our mind and body gives us that danger is near. That danger may come from internal or external sources. Often times stress and anxiety will be cumulative and will draw upon our personal and physical resources. Everybody has different levels of tolerance for different levels of stress and anxiety but excessive stress and anxiety can lead to lowered self-esteem and feelings of depression.
Here are some tips that you can use as coping skills to at least temporarily help deal with life’s stress and anxiety. These are not fool proof and if your stress and anxiety begins to interfere with your everyday functioning it may be time to talk to a professional.
1) Be flexible. Understand what you can and what you cannot change. Be open to changes.
2) Laugh more.
3) Learn to say “no.” It’s often hard to say no, but realize that you can’t do everything.
4) Breathe slowly and deeply. Relax.
5) Feel free to make mistakes. Realize that no one is perfect and the only way to learn is by making mistakes.
6) Become active and exercise.
7) Learn to eat well-balanced meals.
8) Talk with others. Sharing life’s difficulties and problems with another person allows one to shed the weight of burdens shouldered alone.
9) Face your difficulties. Problems will mount quickly until there seem to be so many that they will appear overwhelming. Tackle them one at a time.
10) Allow yourself to mourn. Changes, even good changes come with a sense of loss for how things use to be. You have the right to grieve this loss.
