Everyone deals with stress and anxiety to some degree, weather it be a clinical condition, to simply over-thinking situations. There are ways to help maintain and control these anxious outbursts to at least some degree!
I'm no doctor, but here's a quick therapy session with some simple coping skills.
1. First, BREATHE!
We might not realize it, but when we get anxious or stressed, our breathing becomes constrained. You may be unconsciously holding your breath, hyperventilating, or taking very constrained breaths. Regardless, being aware of your state of being helps distract you from your stress and control your breathing.
Holding your breath also keeps oxygen from getting to your brain, which inhibits thinking straight sometimes.
2. Write everything down!
Whatever is stressing you out, write it down.
It could be something like balancing homework and out of school activities, so then you create a calendar (I currently have three different calendars with an agenda that I update weekly). Organization and color coding saves lives and your mental sanity!
3. Talk it out!
If it's a person or group of people that's stressing you out, first write down how they're making you feel, then write down what you should say to them to make them aware of how your feeling. Finally, go talk to them! Communication is key with people because sometimes someone won't realize how they're making you feel until you say something and (respectfully) don't hold back! You don't want to yell in their face and cause more of a problem than there already was.
4. Get outside your comfort zone!
Alright, this is a tough one because I know personally I'm terrible with trying new things. If you find yourself making any and all excuses not to do something, you're not the only culprit of relying on walking an imaginary dog, instead of going to a hang out with new people. Obviously your nerves can help you stay out of unsafe or situations you know won't end well, then excuses are good! Stay in school and don't do drugs is the typical mom motto, but if the situation is safe and the only thing you have to lose is accidentally making a few more friends, then go for it!
Easier said than done, trust me I know, it takes some small steps to be comfortable with new situations.
5. Self-confidence is KEY
Don't put yourself down about doing something wrong, instead look at your mistakes critically and build upon them. Look in the mirror and write notes of self-investment like "You are beautiful!" and "Smile!" Exercising your muscles when you smile releases endorphins and gives you a brighter mindset.
6. Don't forget to be happy!
Do at least one thing daily that is guaranteed to make you happy. It's like taking vitamins: It is necessary for your everyday sanity to be happy. There's a time and place to be selfish and it's when it comes to your happiness it's more important than anything else in that moment. Sometimes you have to give things up to be happier, but look at the long term result to justify your decisions.
Just don't forget, you are capable of AMAZING things that you yourself are not yet aware of! Don't let anxiety and stress keep you from being the best you that you can be! Believe in your capabilities. Turn phrases like, "I'm too awkward for anyone to be friends with me" into "I'm think I'm hilarious when I'm awkward, being perfect is so boring!" And if all else fails, call your parents, they'll probably talk your ear off about how amazing you are!
