Anxiety & How to Cope!

Life is hard no matter how you look at it. However, its how you handle things that matter. Work on your skills for coping when things are calm. 

Here are some of my skills and suggestions you can incorporate into your daily routine and it will become a habit. 

Habits that can make anxiety worse:

1) Constantly checking all your social media - Spend less time observing life and LIVE IT! Get out, talk to people, explore different locations. There was a time when I was a kid in the summer, my parents and I would go out for a Sunday afternoon drive. We wouldn't spend a lot of money,  just be together, laugh and learn about things. One of my best memories is my father pulling off to the side of the road in New Hampshire along the river and going swimming in the clearest and coldest water ever! Spend one weekend a month doing this, even if you are alone don't be afraid it is amazing the people you met on the way.

2) Overloading your schedule - take time to breath! We overbook ourselves all time! You need to take time to decompress. I was famous for doing this and my mom would always say "Lisa Marie its going to catch up with you one day". She was so right! I remember feeling overwhelmed and couldn't function in my everyday life. Our brains get clogged up with so much bulls--- that we forget to have fun. When was the last time you had fun?

3) Neglecting physical health - exercise, eat healthy. This must come as one of your top three. Exercise helps your mind and your body. I never used to put this as important until I turned 40, dropped 68 pounds and started to just feel so much better about myself. I try my hardest to swim at least 4 times a week, put good food in my body (except I have to have a little white chocolate and ice cream in the summer)

4) Avoiding problems instead of addressing them - face things head on don't avoid them. This is still one that I struggle with. I hate dealing with nasty people even when the situation starts out pretty civilized this person always makes it a HUGE battle. 

5) Overthinking & Dramatizing Things - Stay in inner peace and out of your head. When you overthink it just causes more issues. When something is decided, accept it and go on! Drama gives me a HUGE headache and for the last 5 years I have definitely stayed out of it. It's Peace for me baby!

Reduce Anxiety Quickly

1) Deep breathing - will help you calm down and help you think straight.

2) Naming - what you are believing and feeling. Don't hold back it ends up hurting you.

3) Grounding - sometimes being in nature and grounding yourself outside helps your natural ability to focus.

4) Organizing - when life is semi organized it sets your mind at ease.

5) Moving - changing your surroundings can help. Go somewhere that you feel safe, more comfortable or productive.

6) Laughing - they say its the best medicine! Learn to laugh at yourself it's important.

7) Distracting - when you distract yourself it will take your mind off of things. Watch a movie, read a good book

8) Cooling - Time to cool the jets and relax! 

"Kindness, like a boomerang, always returns."