Overcoming Anxiety

It is indeed inevitable to experience one crisis or another at different points in time. It’s the nature of the world. Half of the time, we live in an anxious world.

Chaotic events spread across the world as though it were jam on bread. Take a look at Corona virus worldwide, #EndSARS protests in Nigeria, the protests against the Prime Minister in Thailand, the holocaust in Democratic Republic of Congo to the unrest in Iraq, Syria… Even individually, there are situations we come across that make us have anxiety disorder (running into debt, missing a deadline, family crisis, nursing a sick loved one…
There are countless examples to prove that we actually do live in a world that makes us have anxiety disorder. How then do you stay sane, stay mentally healthy and stay productive during these times? How do you overcome anxiety? Here’s a compilation of ideas to keep you going even when the atmosphere is all tense.

First of all, you need to acknowledge that your mental health is important and treat it like it matters. Recognize the fact that your mental health needs attention and care too just like your physical health. The amazing thing is that you do not have to go out of your way or break a bank to attend to your mental health. Day to day life activities can embody elements for mental wellness. That is the first step to overcoming anxiety.
Have a good read but first note this. As seen in nytimes, a psychiatry assistant professor at Harvard Medical School, Dr Rosmarin had this to say about handling anxiety: ‘We try to regulate our emotions when life feels out of control, however, anticipating ultimate doom and gloom as a means of taking control in uncertain times is not particularly effective’.

It is therefore no wonder how incorporating some of these tips to deal with anxiety can help you.

How To Overcome Anxiety
Breathe
Deliberately inhale and exhale deeply to calm your mind and probably even a racing heart. According to a study, various emotions are related to different forms of breathing. For instance, when you feel anxious or angry, your breathing becomes irregular and fast. When you feel joy or relaxation, your breathing will be regular, deep, and slow. When you follow breathing ways associated with distinct emotions, you begin to feel those interrelated emotions.

Take A Walk In Nature
Allow the breeze To blow you, savor the beauty that nature surrounds you with. It refreshes your mind.

Stargaze
Stargazing is a stress-relieving activity that you can try out. You can always sit in front of your house and watch the stars at night (either alone or with a loved one). While watching the stars, it is important that you take heavy or unpleasant thoughts off your chest, it helps you enjoy the experience better.

Talk to a Loved One
Conversations with loved ones are stress-relief mechanisms in themselves. Talking to a loved one might be just the relief you need.
Watch A Comedy – Live Performance
This is simple, in any way that there is. Find a way to laugh away!
Listen to Soothing Music or Melodies: Music has the ability to soothe your mind. Do music and melodies or just listen to something that soothes you. It depends on what works for you.

Watch Your Intake of Information
In times like this, you should watch and when necessary, limit your intake of information. It can get overwhelming! It’s important to know when it’s beginning to be way more than “Just Being Informed” because what you take in is what you let out. Allow not negative energy to overtake you.

Take Breaks from The Chaos, Crisis and Riot
We all do need breaks at different points in our lives as they not only help us rest but help us get revitalized. Take a break as soon as the need arises!
Eat Well: Taking food for granted is taking your health for granted. Eat well and eat balanced diets. Nutrition is important for overall health and for productivity. DO NOT JOKE WITH FOOD!

Sleep Well
Sleep is indisputably an important part of human wellbeing yet it is highly underestimated. The adequate number of sleep hours recommended daily is 8 HOURS! It’s an out rightly bad habit to sleep for lesser hours.

Reduce Your Workload when Necessary (Too much Pressure is unhealthy)
Build A Resilient Mindset and Spirit (It helps you navigate through tough times easier). Understand that you might be angry about it all but you shouldn’t beat yourself up because of this – You after all need to be alive and well to be a part of the change being made or even reap the fruits being sowed.
Don’t lose yourself!
Don’t break down! You need you, a lot of other people need you too. Take good care of yourself and allow yourself to thrive even in anxious times.
Once our psychosocial wellbeing is distorted, our productivity reduces