9 Tips to Stop Anxiety

There are things that you can do to stop anxiety!
To stop anxiety and feelings of panic, you have to take control of your mind, calm yourself and stay centred. Here is what works for me...
Get Moving
Put on your walking shoes and hit the road! Get to the gym! Jump in the pool! ...Do whatever it takes to get you moving. Exercise is one of the best ways to lessen the effects of anxiety. Chronic anxiety causes a build-up of stress hormones in the body and exercise gets rid of them. Accumulated adrenalin increases feelings anxiety and makes you more jumpy and nervous. Any form of exercise helps stop anxiety getting out of control... And has many other benefits. The dog will love you if you take him for a run!
Cut the Caffeine
Too much caffeine stimulates the central nervous system and makes you feel more jittery and out-of-control. When trying to stop anxiety, you want to get calm and not more nervous! And hold back on the alcohol!
Limit your "Worry Time"
You may not be able to stop anxiety, BUT you CAN cut down on the amount of time you spend worrying. Make a conscious decision to give yourself 30 minutes of "anxiety time" once a day. Make a list of things you worry about and give it your full attention once a day. Then put it aside and wait for tomorrow before you look at again. Our anxiety grows in proportion to the attention we give it. I do this, and it works for me!
Face Your Fears
Psychologists call this "exposure". Make yourself come face to face with what causes your feelings of anxiety. If you stress about your finances, sit down with all of your debts and income and make a real plan to get on top of it. Is a stressful relationship causing you to feel anxious? - Speak to the person concerned, or get help! But DO something about it!
Phone a Friend
You know the old saying? - "A trouble shared is a trouble halved" - It's true! By verbally expressing your anxiety, you dissipate the energy around it and lessen the effect it has on you. And your friend might have some good suggestions on what to do. Talking about it also helps you see it in a different light. Phone a Help Line if you feel desperate.
Breathe
You can use your body to calm your mind. Taking a deep breath and counting to ten allows your mind to be still and takes your attention away from the feelings of panic. To stop anxiety, you need to take control of your mind. Don't wait for the panic attack - make relaxation an important part of your daily exercise. Do a body scan and learn to release tension before it catches up with you.
Eat Right
Anxiety depletes your body of essential nutrients for a healthy nervous system. You can help stop anxiety attacks by eating stress-busting foods. Make sure you know what to include in your diet!
Clean the Clutter
Anxiety is a feeling of panic and being out of control. A good way to stop anxiety feelings is to take control in a small way over things that you CAN manage. Start with that cluttered drawer that irritates you every time you need to find something in it. Replant the scruffy pot plants. Do something constructive!
Have a Laugh
Laughing is sometimes the last thing you think of doing when trying to stop anxiety. But it really works. A good laugh releases endorphins (feel-good hormones) into the system. Watch a funny movie. Think of a stupid joke... Anything that gets a smile on your face.
If you feel overwhelmed by feelings of panic, nervousness and anxiousness, please get professional help. Or at least speak to someone about it.
Margo Bastos is passionate about holistic healing and natural stress-free living. Her abiding interest, continuing personal research and every-day philosophy is in alternative mind, body and spiritual modalities. She has a real estate business in South Africa and her formal qualifications include a MA in Jewish Studies from the University of Cape Town.Together with Alan Mounter, a practicing holistic therapist, she has a website dealing with natural remedies for managing the negative effects of stress.
Author : By Margo Bastos for more information send email to timyeskin@gmail.com