What are the Best Tips for Coping with Anxiety?

Believe it or not, something as simple as telling yourself to "calm down" can be a big help when it comes to coping with anxiety. It also tends to work surprisingly well to tell others who are starting to panic, either due to anxiety problems or during a crisis situation. Taking a calm approach can lessen feelings of anxiety and allow the mind to work more efficiently in solving problems. Therapy and medication are other ways of coping with anxiety. Reading self-help materials can also help you deal with situations that induce panic and fear.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy has been shown to be effective for many people trying to overcome anxiety disorders. Cognitive therapies work on exchanging anxiety-invoking thoughts and beliefs into more calming, positive ones. Behavioral therapies are also important in coping with anxiety because actions such as seeking out more relaxing environments and participating in less stressful activities is necessary. Since feelings of anxiety tend to become an automatic, habitual response to stress in some people, adjusting these responses through new attitudes and behaviors can lead to greater inner peace.

Anti-anxiety medication, when taken as prescribed by a qualified medical professional, can also be helpful in coping with anxiety. Typically, the medication works best when combined with behavioral and cognitive therapies. Antidepressant medication can help calm or slow down the anxious person, which is likely to make changes in behaviors and attitudes easier. Following the directions on the medication such as not drinking alcohol is crucial or the results likely won't be effective.

Reading about anxiety and its causes may help give you insight into why you are experiencing anxious thoughts or even full-blown panic attacks. Try to pinpoint what situations seem to trigger feelings of panic or anxiousness in you. It's understandable to experience anxiety during times of great stress such as financial problems, job loss or death of a loved one, but if anxiousness or panic is something you deal with regularly over small things, it's important to get help in coping with it. Self-help books and relaxation techniques can go a long way in helping people relieve chronic anxiety, but if these aren't enough, professional help should be sought.

Anxiety can accompany depression, so it's absolutely crucial to seek immediate medical help if you experience thoughts of suicide. Other emotions such as fear and anger are often mixed up with feelings of anxiousness; trying to get to what you're feeling and why throughout each day may help you in coping with anxiety. Because people often become distraught and stressed over things in their lives that they don't always have control over, it's important to concentrate on what you can change for yourself rather than what you can't. Accomplishing even small successes can make you more positive and less anxious as you strive to live your life to the fullest.