As humans, we are completely diverse in nature and in motives. However, there is one issue that always seems to haunt even the bravest of us all, and that is anxiety. According to Google, anxiety is "a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome." We have all experienced the sensations of worry, nervousness and unease, but what happens when it goes from being an experience to becoming a chronic problem?
Most of us experience anxiety in a brief moment and sometimes it can make you perform better like stress does to us. However, just like stress, too much can be very debilitating in our day to day lives. If the anxiety is too severe to the point where you cannot leave the house or function normally, then some action needs to be taken to gain control of your life again. Here are some tips to help relieve chronic anxiety from a person who suffers from it day to day.
I understand that you do not want, more so, cannot leave the house and cannot explain why this suffocating panic swells in your throat as soon as you approach the door day after day. I understand that it is frustrating and crippling at the same time, but the best path to relief is by being able to get out and eventually trying to become more comfortable or having a safe haven for your mind. When my anxiety was at its worst, I searched out bathrooms as my location to gather myself. An odd location, I know, but you have to do what is best in order to function properly and my brain connected safety to bathrooms, even when I did not need to use them.
Another tactic that helped me was having someone with me whenever I need to go to different places because they can distract you from your thoughts. Granted, sometimes having someone with you could back fire and be a trigger to an anxiety attack, so make sure to choose that individual carefully.
Seeking out exits and sitting closest near them might not be an agenda in everyone's mind, but for those with anxiety, it is essential. I still do this to this day, mainly because whenever I used to have my panic attacks in one of my classes, it was easier to slip out of a building and hyperventilate outside than inside in the closed space. So being located near the exit makes the trip a great amount shorter and could create less of a scene as you sprint out of the room to get air.
Lastly, the most important tip to take is to not be afraid to tell someone of your anxiety. It is nothing to be ashamed of and could make your attacks easier to deal with, as long as that person is willing to help you out. What I mean by helping out is not telling someone to calm down, that does nothing for us. Rather, sit down with us on the ground in a quieter space. Give us a hug or hold our hand. If possible, getting us away from a crowded space is the best option. If not, then try to get us to a quieter spot inside. Talking about your anxiety relieves it naturally, because it is a type of unburdening and by being able to speak what is on your mind, it also moves the thoughts in your brain through its processes and allows them to flow out.
If you see your fellow friend, classmate, coworker, family member or anyone you know freaking out, having an anxiety attack or having a panic attack, do not be afraid to help them through it because sometimes all they need is a few comforting words, fresh air and a hand to hold.
