Anxiety Coping Strategies

Anxiety is not always bad. In fact, sometime a dose of mild anxiety is what is needed to give us that extra bit of motivation to achieve a personal or professional goal. On the other hand it can be very destructive if allowed to become too intense or last too long. Put figuratively it can be the spice of life or the death of us. Anxiety coping strategies can help us achieve this delicate balance.

For some the answers will be found in prescription sleep medications such as Ambien or over the counter sleep medications such as Benadryl or Klonopin. But these may not be the safest nor healthiest options due to the possibility for addiction or unforeseen side effects. These factors alone should be enough to make a person consider one or more anxiety coping strategies. If you have a couple of minutes why don we explore five anxiety coping strategies that could prove helpful both for short and long term anxiety.

*The aroma of relaxation: Our sense of smell is perhaps influences us more than any other sense. It can trigger a wave of positive happy memories or an avalanche of negative thoughts. The best advice as it relates to anxiety coping is to surround yourself with smells that make you feel happy, loved and/or secure, and do away with those that bring on grief and/or nervous tension.

*Exercise your way to happiness: The tendency when you are tied up in an emotional knots is to become less active. Inactivity causes your body to build up carbon dioxide and other toxins and become oxygen deprived. Additionally, when inactive less feel goods endorphins are secreted. This can, and often does, lead to prolonged and intense levels of anxiety and possibly depression. So move those buns.

*Take deep breaths for physical and mental relaxation: Breathing is one of the easiest and most effective anxiety coping strategies at your disposal. By taking deep breaths, holding them for a second or two, and releasing the air through your lips, you will be supplying your body with the oxygen it needs for both mental and physical wellbeing. You will also be counteracting the natural reaction to stress and anxiety which is to breath shallow and fast. One anxiety coping technique that has worked well for me is to take from 5 to 10 breaths making sure my breathing stays rhythmic and deep.

*Try to get enough quality rest: Sleep is the pause that refreshes. You should try to get at least seven or eight hours of sleep every night, don take long naps during the day, and establish a bedtime routine where you go to be about the same time each night and get up about the same time each morning.

* Herbal remedies for anxiety: Sometimes you just might need a little extra help for anxiety coping, relieving that nervous tension, or balancing emotions when life throws a road block your way. If this is the case herbal remedies are a non prescription alternative that just might be able to provide that little extra bit of help needed.