Like many American teenagers, I suffer from anxiety and intrusive thoughts. Despite anxiety being a mental disorder, it can make tasks that seem ridiculously easy very challenging. Whether it's making a simple call or trying to finish an important essay, I often find myself overwhelmed by intrusive and racing thoughts. These thoughts are mentally exhausting, as it's pretty hard to focus when your brain is constantly reminding you of something that already makes you anxious.
However, over the years I've found some handy tricks that have helped me deal with intense anxiety. While if you have the money and time, therapy can be a good option but again that is not something readily accessible to everyone. Fair warning, some of these may seem a little odd but these are tricks that have been effective for me. I know all of these tricks may not work for everyone, some may work for some folks while others may work for other people, or, none may work. In the end, it's all about finding what helps you personally. Regardless, it's important to find out what works for you. So, without further ado, here are five simple ways to soothe your anxieties:5: Listening to classical music
1: Listen to classical music
Depending on what you listen to, classical music can be effective in soothing your mind. On music platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music, there's a wide range of calming classical playlists. Some of my personal favorite songs to listen to when anxious include Erik Satie's Gymnopédies and Arvo Pärt's Summa, specifically the first track, Pärt: Summa.
2: Watch a documentary
When it comes to unwanted, racing thoughts lingering in my mind, I benefit from a little distraction here and there. That's one thing I love about watching a nice, lengthy documentary. The way I see it is like this; not only am I taking my mind off of this anxiety but I'm also learning something new. It's always important to expand our horizons and this is a good way to relax and focus on something that actually might interest you. Pro tip: YouTube has plenty of free documentaries, just think of a topic you're interested in and look it up.
3: Cook yourself a meal
Find yourself a recipe that's not too difficult yet not incredibly simple. I've learned that cooking solo can actually be good for my mental health, I'm focused on something other than my anxieties and I'm dedicated to making the end result taste good. In the past, cooking soup has been my personal favorite because there's no right or wrong way to make soup. There's what feel like millions of different types of soup. Plus, soups are a good way to get all your nutrients in, you can add all kinds of vegetables and proteins such as beans, poultry, or seafood.
4: Watch and analyze a film
This one might seem a little bizarre, but I've found some comfort in immersing myself in a movie. Again, like some of the previous tricks, taking your mind off of intrusive thoughts can be very helpful for a worried mind. Pay attention to the different shots, lighting, the characters' movements, and body language, what are they communicating to the audience? What is the director trying to say? By immersing yourself you can find comfort in a character's journey to achieve his or her goal.
5: Hike at a nature preserve
Last but certainly not least, see if you have any nature preserves, or if you're lucky, national and state parks, near you. Taking a break from the hustle and bustle of daily life and responsibilities to spend a few hours surrounded by nature has seriously helped ease my mind. When you begin your hike, take notice of all the plants and trees you see, focus on your surroundings. Breathe in and out slowly as you trek through your path, soak in all the natural beauty surrounding you.
