According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), roughly 40 million adults suffer from anxiety in the United States. Are you one of those 40 million? Do you suffer from a racing pulse, a tightened chest, or feelings of “fight or flight”? There are many things you can do to cope with anxiety. Here are six ways you can help bring yourself back to a relaxed state and move forward with your day.

Breathing Exercises

One of the easiest—and most reliable—ways to calm down and cope with anxiety attacks is to utilize your own breathing. As you start to panic, your breathing becomes erratic. Forcing your lungs to behave more regularly can help turn off the alarms in the whole body. There are a number of techniques that can achieve this, but one of the simplest is just to focus on breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth. Repeat as many times as necessary.

Physical Activity

If you’re overflowing with nervous energy, give it an outlet. Exercise and physical activity can help reduce the levels of stress hormones in your body and boost endorphin levels, making you feel happier. Plus it’s good for you.

Meditation

Meditation has long been known to have benefits for your mental health. Part of it comes from meditation’s focus on controlled breathing (which we mentioned above), but it’s more than that. Spending time dedicated to peaceful contemplation allows you to disconnect mentally, putting your body into a relaxed state that even sleep struggles to rival. Daily meditation provides practice at achieving this calmness, making it easier to do it in a pinch to cope with anxiety.

Lavender

Lavender is used in many forms as a relaxation aid. It’s used as an oil in aromatherapy, as a candle and a bath bomb scent, as an herbal supplement, and as a flavor of tea. It has a significant calming effect on those who use it.

Getting Away

Sometimes, you just need to unplug, if even for a brief moment. Whether it’s a weeklong cruise, a weekend getaway, an afternoon hike, or a day of “Netflixing,” giving yourself some distance from the pressures, worries, and triggers that cause you anxiety can help you reset and give you the mental energy necessary to give it another try.

Sleep

When in doubt, get some shut-eye. Take a nap, go to bed early, sleep in on your day off; however you do it, get yourself the rest that you need. If you’re too anxious to sleep, try soothing your nerves first by meditating, doing breathing exercises, or drinking something warm (like the lavender tea we mentioned earlier). Just be sure you sleep somewhere comfy.

These tips should give you a leg up and help you cope with anxiety, but if all else fails, there’s something else that may help. The energy healing techniques we teach can help alleviate anxiety symptoms so that you can get back to living your life. Contact us today for more information.