5 Tips To Help with Anxiety
Are you heading back to school in the coming days and feeling anxious about what lies ahead? Or do you have a looming work deadline that feels heavy and stressful? Perhaps you’re anxious about the development of your children, your relationships, or simply the state of the world?
Feeling anxious is so valid in this messy, unpredictable world. But, you don’t have to live with that discomfort as a constant companion. Here are 5 quick tips to help soothe yourself when you notice anxiety bubbling up:
- Take notice of the present moment
Anxiety can take us outside of our body and present moment, causing us to spin out in different directions and past and future scenarios. A quick tool to ground yourself in the present moment is to name 5 things you can see, 3 things you can touch and 1 thing you can smell in the current moment.
- Listen to a meditation
Sometimes sitting still is the last thing you want to do when feeling anxious - understandably so! If you’re somewhere where you can’t move (e.g. work, in transit) try listening to a grounding meditation where you focus on your breathing and regulate your physical response to anxiety. Our resident mindfulness expert Ashton offers fantastic monthly meditations on our YouTube channel: Wildflower Therapy LLC.
- Go for a walk
If meditations aren’t for you - go for a slow walk! Remember the “I’m going on a silly little walk for my mental health” trend? It wasn’t wrong! Changing your location and being around nature can be incredibly soothing for getting out of your mind and into your body.
- Do something that intentionally sparks joy
This doesn’t have to be a big grand gesture, but it’s an intentional act of self-care. Buying a bouquet of flowers in your favorite color, making chocolate chip pancakes, listening to your favorite song. These are small things that can make a big difference
- Talk to someone
If you’re comfortable, talk to someone about how you’re feeling. This can be a trusted family member, friend or a professional. Our team is here to help - email wildflowertherapyllc@gmail.com for a free consultation with one of our therapists!
Feeling anxious is not a sign of weakness. You can recognize the feeling, acknowledge it without judgment, get curious about what it’s pointing to, and use the above tips as part of your mental health toolbox to calm and ground yourself!
By: Maddy Weingast, Assistant for Wildflower Therapy LLC