I recently participated in a study about how to deal with anxiety using Christian meditation. This got me thinking about other ways to help manage and relieve anxiety. I wrote an article not long ago about dealing with stress and anxiety during the semester, but that mostly focused on school-related stress. This article is meant to focus more on anxiety in general and how to handle it during any situation, not just during school. I'll try not to repeat tips that I already gave, but I'll link that article so you can check it out if you're interested. I said it in my last article, but I'll say it again: I'm not a professional when it comes to anxiety and how to deal with it. I'm just using my own experiences and things that I've learned to help other people who have a similar issue to mine. These tips may help, or they may not; it will depend on personal levels of anxiety and preferences on how to ease it. It's okay if you try something here and don't get the results you were hoping for. Keep trying new things, and you'll find something that works for you. Okay, now that the disclaimer is out of the way, here are some tips on how I manage my anxiety (in a healthy way):
1. Meditation.
Since this article was inspired by my recent participation, I think it should be my first tip. In the study, we learned how to separate ourselves from whatever we were worried about and refocus our attention on God. For Christians, this is a great way to handle anxiety. We are usually anxious about what's going on in front of us, and that obstructs our view of the big picture and what's really important. Using Christian meditation, you can step back from whatever is stressing you out long enough to remember who God is and how He can handle your problems. Then, you're better able to relax and get done what you need to get done.
2. Oils.
You are probably really tired of hearing about essential oils. That's fine, but they can be very helpful in getting you to relax. For me, scents like lavender, peppermint, and orange help to relax and invigorate. You can also use scented candles if you want.
3. Talking.
Sometimes, you just need to talk. Anxiety can be a heavy burden, and you shouldn't carry it alone. Let me rephrase that: you CAN'T carry it alone. You need other people you can talk to about what's going on in your life. It can be a friend, a parent, or a therapist. Sometimes, though, it can be hard to find someone you can trust to talk to. You may not know where to turn. You may not even be able to afford therapy. I encourage you to keep looking. There will always be someone who'll listen, even if it's someone you didn't expect. I also encourage you to keep a diary. If you're like me, writing things down can help you sort out your feelings. You can also look back on it later and see how much you've grown and changed. I like reading through old diaries and seeing how much I've improved. The important thing is to get everything off your chest, whether it's to a person or a book.
I hope these tips were helpful! Anxiety can suck, but you have to keep going and push through. Some people have it worse than others, and some people have really severe cases. Whatever your situation is, I hope you find what works for you, get whatever help you may need, and keep living life. Don't let anxiety stop you! Good luck!
Here's the link to that other article:
https://www.theodysseyonline.com/stress-and-anxiety-during-school
