As a mental health advocate and someone who struggles with debilitating anxiety, I find that coping mechanisms are super important. I have many different methods I use when dealing with anxiety and panic attacks. These are methods I swear by and would highly recommend to anyone who is struggling with any kind of anxiety or stress!
1.Meditation
I find that meditating calms my nerves while allowing me to be more in the moment and stop worrying about circumstances beyond my control. When I meditate I am able to focus on my breathing and allow my mind to let go of negative thoughts. There are tons of different types of mediation one can practice but my favorite are guided meditations. I like to have a clear vision during my meditation and feel I get the best results with a guide.
2. Healing Crystals
Healing crystals are something that I firmly believe in and use every day. I start each morning putting my crystals out on my window sill. I allow them to soak up the positive energy from the sun and if at any point during the day I feel anxious or stressed I hold them and allow the positive energy to transfer from the stones to my body. Through this practice, I am able to rid myself of my anxiety and move forward with my day in a positive light.
3. Physical Activity
Getting physical when having anxiety is a huge stress reliever. I find going for a walk around the block allows me to take in the nature around me and connect to the earth while omitting any negative energy. I also feel that expressing myself through dancing, stretching, or working out at the gym help to get out any aggression and relieve any tension I feel.
4. Singing
One of my biggest passions is singing. Through singing, I feel I am able to embody a character and let any anxiety I feel slip away. Whether I’m singing a happy song or a sad song I’m still able to rid myself of anxiety and become consumed by my music.
5. Scents
I am a huge lover of aromatherapy. I believe the scents we take in can affect our mood and feelings. Essential Oils and Candles are some of my favorite things to utilize when I feel anxious. Specifically using lavender or eucalyptus scents can majorly reduce anxiety, I am also a big fan of the stress releif scent from Bath and Body Works!
6. My Emotional Support Animal
Beni, my dog, offers me massive amounts of support and stress relief in times when I am experiencing debilitating anxiety. He has been trained as an emotional support animal to stay calm and allow me to receive the support I need. Having him in my life is the ultimate source of support and my all-time favorite anxiety reducer.
These are just a few of my many tips to reduce anxiety and panic attacks. There are plenty of additional ways to relieve stress that I implore everyone to explore and find what works best for them! I hope to inspire others to find methods of anxiety relief that work for them
