11 Ways to deal with Anxiety and Stress

Being in the 20s, you are least likely to get heart diseases, asthma, hypertension, and even coronavirus, however you are most prone to encountering anxiety, depression, and stress. Now some would say it is a part and parcel of life, being anxious and worried about routine things in life with many decisions to take at this age regarding career, relationships and many more. It is a part and parcel of life but sometimes the explosions in our minds have more impact than we can handle.

There is a basic difference between anxiety and stress, being anxious is worrying about something that is going to happen and stress is worrying about something that has already happened. Either way, they affect your mind and can eventually affect your health. Here are a few things you can do immediately when you are anxious or stressed-

PRACTICE DEEP FOCUSED BREATHING

Whenever you are experiencing any panic attacks or disrupted breathing in some stressful situation or scenario, practice slow deep breaths. I suggest moving to a less crowded space, close your eyes and try relaxing. Count to 10 and focus on your breathing pattern and let the heart rate come back to its normal pace.

CHANGING YOUR DIET

Changing your diet or including certain food items in your diet can help reduce anxiety and stress. Research has shown that certain supplements like lemon balm, green tea, dark chocolate, and omega-3-fatty acids help in reducing anxiety.

LISTEN TO SOME MUSIC

Listen to your favorite tracks to keep your mind away from unhealthy thoughts. I suggest listening to some peppy music or tracks you listen to while working out because it helps you associate with the feelings of being energetic and happy.

AVOID CAFFEINE, ALCOHOL, AND NICOTINE

Don’t smoke or drink especially when you are stressed or are likely to be stressed. Swap caffeinated and alcoholic drinks for water, herbal teas, or diluted natural fruit juices and aim to keep yourself hydrated as this will enable your body to cope better with stress.

WRITE YOUR FEELINGS

Keep a stress diary where you can write all your feelings and emotions whenever you feel disoriented from your usual self.

PRACTICE MINDFULNESS

Mindfulness is a type of meditation in which you focus on being intensely aware of what you're sensing and feeling in the moment, without interpretation or judgment. Practicing mindfulness involves breathing methods, guided imagery, and other practices to relax the body and mind and help reduce stress. HERE IS A VIDEO EXPLAINING THE CONCEPT OF MINDFULNESS...

TURN OFF YOUR PHONE

Not using the phone is a very difficult task to achieve nowadays especially when all our daily activities are simply done using just one device. However, what you can do is go on a social media fasting for a while, delete your Instagram and other apps for some time and I am pretty sure that you would be able to operate well without them for a while.

SEEK PROFESSIONAL HELP

When you are too tired trying to get rid of the demons inside your head, just seek help. One sentence of acceptance that “I can’t do it on my own” to our loved ones would be a step towards healing. Go see a therapist, our mind deserves equal care as our body.

When you manage to overpower the demons lurking in your mind and overcome all the anxieties and stress to continue your daily tasks and meet your work deadlines; your powers are no less than those of Superman or Wonder woman. If you ever did manage to pull yourself out of that dark mental space, you have some superpowers and I am super proud of you!