Anxiety can make it hard to enjoy life. However, you can overcome anxiety and reduce its effects by learning how to stand up to it!

Even though different people experience anxiety at varying intervals and intensities, there is no one correct way to deal with it. You can create your own toolkit and plan – like a fire drill that protects people – which you can use if you begin to experience anxiety.

In This Episode:

· Be Prepared

· Refocus with a Visual

· You Can Handle Anxiety

· Connect with a Loved One

· Seek Help from a Professional

Be Prepared

Consider fire drills. You don’t wait for there to be an emergency before you decide what to do, you plan for the emergency before it happens so that you are better prepared in case it does.

So, if you know that you sometimes experience anxiety, it’s a good idea to come up with a plan on how to bring yourself back to a place and feeling of safety when you are not in that anxious state.

Plan to make your anxiety plan when the anxiety is not present – when the building is not on fire! And you can practice your plan, the same as you do with a fire drill, so that you know what you can do to bring yourself back to a sense of calmness and safety.

Refocus with a Visual

Another way to overcome and reduce anxiety is to use the power of visualisation. Imagine you are on the beach, in a forest, or place that makes you feel safe, refreshed, and calm.

Let the image of this come into your mind and imagine yourself there because that mental shift can be strong enough to help bring you back from the anxious edge.

You Can Handle Anxiety

There may be moments in your life where anxiety is present, and it may not go away, even with coping strategies or tools.

However, the goal is not necessarily to eradicate anxiety, but rather to equip and prepare yourself enough so that when you do feel anxious, you can keep yourself calm enough to navigate the situation until it’s over.

Connect with a Loved One

You do not have to bear the burden alone.

If you are experiencing an anxious moment, you can reach out to a trusted friend or family member and ask them if you can speak with them for a while.

Seek Help from a Professional

You can always find professional, trained, and empathic help from a Halifax therapist that has experience and education around helping people with anxiety.

Taking a step towards ensuring your mental health remains at its best is a great way you can give yourself love and support, too. You can always seek help, and it makes you stronger, not weaker, in doing so.

Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:

Ep 02: How it Shows Up

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Read our blog about anxiety