Hi!
My name is Jordan and I have anxiety.
Not the “Sometimes I feel anxious.” kind; I’m talking about the daily, energy-draining, waking up in the middle of the night, heart racing, sometimes paralyzing, panic-inducing, feeling like everything is caving in around me for no reason kind of anxiety. There’s a difference, and believe me when I tell you, it’s no walk in the park! It’s mentally and physically draining. According to the World Health Organization, one in 13 people suffers from anxiety- worldwide. Holy moly, that’s a lot of people! While I’m glad the stigma around mental health is fading, we still have a lot of work to do.
This isn’t a post about my story or anything like that, but rather a guide of how I deal with my anxiety. Keep in mind that I am in no way, shape, or form a doctor and this not to be taken as medical advice. Everyone is different, and these may not work for you. I just wanted to share some of the tips and tricks I’ve learned over the past years, in hopes that it will help at least one person. Let’s get started!
#1 Be Aware of Your Surroundings
The environment I’m in is key when it comes to myself and my anxiety. When I think about my surroundings, three things come to mind: Public areas, my home, and social media. Each one is filled with triggers, and this is how I deal with them.
Public Areas
I’m starting with this first because this is the toughest one for me. Public areas, in general, aren’t too bad; the large crowds and busy places are the triggers for my anxiety. Here are some of my tips for when you’re in public:
- Whenever I enter a public place, I always look for two ways out. This might be exit doors or just spaces with fewer people in them, like a bathroom. Feeling trapped is a huge trigger for me, so knowing there are ways out helps me feel better.
- I sit close to the door when I’m on public transit.
- If I’m at a concert, I prefer to stay at the back or on the side of a large crowd. There are exceptions though, like Harry Styles, I had to be as close as possible haha.
- I use the Calm app to do some breathing exercises or meditation. This is perfect for long bus rides and airplanes.
- I shop at times that I know the store won’t be busy. This is a major perk of not having a traditional job!
I would include tips for travel anxiety, but I could write a whole post on that, and we’d be here forever. Comment down below if that would be something you’d you’re interested in reading.
Home
Home is my safe place; where I feel most relaxed, at ease, and comfortable. This is probably why I never invite people over, not because I don’t like and enjoy spending time with people, but because then I’d be letting people into my safe zone… and that gives me anxiety.
The only time my home makes me feel uneasy is when it is a mess. Which is totally odd because I have a hard time keeping things tidy, so you’d think I’d be used to the mess! This year I’ve been working really hard to be a tidier person, and it’s helping a lot. I’ve had way less anxiety-filled days due to my messy habits. Lesson learned! Feeling anxious in your home for no reason? Try cleaning!
Social Media
I don’t struggle with this one, but I know some of you do. We all follow people on social media who we think are just so perfect, right? Well, guess what? They aren’t, they have flaws, they have problems, and they might also have anxiety! JUST. LIKE. YOU! #RELATABLE right? Here’s the thing, people only put things online that they want others to see; You do it, I do it, we all do it. That’s the problem with social media! You’re only seeing tiny bits of everyone’s day! Here are some things you need to do with your social media habits:
- Unfollow anyone who makes you feel like you aren’t good enough.
- Unfollow anyone who constantly makes you annoyed.
- Unfollow your exes. You don’t need to “check on them”, they’re fine.
- Don’t try to keep up with/compare yourself to others.
- Have a “No Phone Day.” These are my favourite! I keep my phone on silent, put it in a separate room, and just relax. Can’t relax? Use this time to clean, catch up on your shows, catch up on work. Whatever you do, do it without your phone by your side. You’ll be amazed at how much you can accomplish in a day, and you’ll feel great about yourself.
#2 Health and Fitness
Ok, so I mentioned this in my How To Get Through The Winter Blues post, but this is seriously so important. When you’re feeling anxious/sad/in a funk, you NEED those endorphins. I try to go to the gym five times a week, some weeks that doesn’t happen, but I try. I know that not everyone has that kind of time, but you need to get moving somehow. Try going for a five-minute run, do some yoga, or take your dog out for a nice walk. It doesn’t matter what form of exercise you do, just get your body moving! Since I started working out, my anxiety has been way more manageable, and my body actually craves it!
Now, let’s talk about food. I love food, but not all foods love me. When I look back at all of the times that my anxiety seemed unbearable, I realize that my diet was complete crap. Junk food is easy and tastes good, but it’s not your friend. Let me repeat that for the people in the back, IT IS NOT YOUR FRIEND! Once I go back to eating more whole foods and things that are good for me, I start to feel so much better.
Alcohol. Yeah, it’s fun, but it’s not an anxious person’s friend either. You might think that having one drink might help take the edge off, but trust me, it’s a slippery slope. One eventually turns into two and two turns into way too many. I have made this mistake countless times and it made my anxiety even worse the next day! I highly suggest doing a dry month when you’re not feeling your best. I did it, and it changed the game for me.
#3 Spa(Pamper) Night
When I say spa night, I don’t mean dishing out the big bucks to go to a spa… unless you have that kind of disposable cash and are up for it. Instead, bring the spa to your home! Your brain is constantly going and stressing your body out; you deserve to pamper yourself! Here’s what I like to have during my spa nights:
- Bubble baths
- Fresh scented candles
- Face masks
- Relaxing music
- Ice water in a wine glass. It feels fancy!
- Comfy pj’s
- Fuzzy slippers
- Nail polish
- Funny movies
- Puppy cuddles.
I have a spa night every couple of weeks. I feel like it really helps me relax. Has your anxiety been keeping you from hanging out with friends? Having a couple of friends over for a small spa night is a great way to have fun, but not send your anxiety spinning out of control. Chances are your friends will enjoy it too!
#4 Talk It Out
“I don’t want to burden anyone with my problems.”
Sounds familiar huh? It’s the thought that runs through most of our minds when we’re feeling low. That’s what the anxiety wants you to think. It wants you to keep things buried inside because it knows that talking about it might actually help you!
So who can you talk to? Anyone you feel safe with would be the best option. Talk to a friend, family member, even a teacher if you’re in school. I find that when I talk it out, I end up seeing a different view on things, even just for a little bit. If talking to someone you know doesn’t help, it might be time to find a therapist in your area. Remember, there’s no shame in seeking professional help! They’re objective and helping you is the sole purpose.
I use an online company called BetterHelp. If online therapy interests you, click my affiliate link here to get a week free.
#5 Tools That Can Help
There are a couple of things I use to help manage my anxiety, and I think they’ll help you too!
A Weighted Blanket
This has been a complete life changer for me. What is it? Exactly what it sounds like! It’s a weighted blanket that you put on when you’re feeling anxious. It quickly puts me at ease and feels like a big soft hug! They’re quickly growing in popularity and can be found easily online. The prices and quality of blankets vary, but this is the one I have: Magic Weighted Blanket. I can do a review on it if you’re interested, leave a comment below, but as this is the only blanket I’ve tried, it is the only one I can 110% recommend.
Here are some other options:
*Important: When ordering your blanket, keep in mind that you might be charged customs fees. Mine added another $100! Still worth it though!
Meditation
If you had asked me about meditation a couple of years ago, I would have said it was stupid and a waste of time. Oh, how things change! Now, I think it’s a great way to center yourself and take a timeout. I first got into meditation when I heard about an app called Calm, from the ever so lovely Tanya Burr. She had been talking about how much she loved it, and I thought I would give it a try. Consider me hooked from the very beginning! It’s a paid app, but worth every penny. Not only does do I use it to meditate, but I also use it to help me sleep. I could go on and on about it, so visit Calm.com to learn more!
Just know that if you’re suffering, or having a hard time dealing with your anxiety, there’s help out there! There are people who you can talk to, and ways to help yourself feel better. You are not alone! I hope this post helped you in some way. If you don’t deal with anxiety, please pass this on to someone who does, it might make a difference.
Do you suffer from anxiety? If so, what tips and trick do you use to help yourself? I’m always looking for new suggestions, so leave a comment down below!
xo Little J
*For more information about anxiety and other mental health issues, please visit the ADAA website or Anxiety.org
