4 Surefire Ways to Keep Your Anxiety at Bay

Dealing with anxiety can be rough. From stomach issues to racing thoughts and even a constant feeling of helplessness, if you’ve never dealt with stress before it can be hard to know how to handle it.

But luckily, there are tons of professionals and other sufferers who’ve come up with great and healthy ways to manage anxiety.

Keep reading to discover four excellent methods to keep anxiety at bay.

1. Adopt an Emotional Support Animal

One of the most reliable ways to improve your anxiety is by creating connections that are based in love. And one of the most loving relationships in the world is between an animal and a human.

If you’re in a place where you can support an animal, consider adopting an emotional support animal, or having your pet certified as one.

Emotional support animals provide relief from symptoms of anxiety and other psychological disorders to their owners. Emotional support animals are often allowed to fly with their owners and live with them to provide treatment.

There are a variety of emotional support dog breeds that are well suited to the task of relieving anxiety. But cats, birds, and other animals can qualify as emotional support animals too. If you think a furry or feathered friend could help you manage your anxiety, it’s time consider adopting.

2. Journal Every Day

Another great way to tackle your anxiety is through the practice of journaling. Journaling is a low-cost way to help manage your feelings. Journaling also allows you to re-read and reflect on your thoughts because you’ve gathered them on the page in one place.

There is no wrong way to journal! Whether your journaling is a word-vomit dump of your feelings or a detailed reflection on your place in the world, it doesn’t matter because it’s just for you. Grab a pen and paper and start writing down your thoughts to see if it helps you take on your feelings.

But a word of advice; it can take a few days of journaling for some people to help. Do what you can to stick with the practice for at least a week before moving on — that way you give yourself some time to experiment with what works for you.

3. Don’t Underestimate the Power of Exercise

When you’re feeling anxious, exercising can feel like one more overwhelming task on your list. But in reality, it’s one of the best ways to get out of your head.

Aerobic activities provide your body with a release from your endorphins which can help elevate your mood chemically. Additionally, many anxiety sufferers report that running and other exercises allow them to escape from spiralling thoughts. So, try hitting the treadmill for 20 minutes every day for a week and see what it does to your mood.

4. Turn to a Therapist

Lastly, one of our favourite methods for anxiety management has to be talking to a therapist. Therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, counsellors, and even faith leaders can all be great people to speak to about any crises you have. These people should have training on how to help you create systems that help you manage your anxiety.

Though therapy can sometimes feel stigmatized, it’s a common practice all across the world. Talk with your health care provider today to see if your insurance would cover a therapist. Or look for providers with sliding scale charges that will allow you to visit them at a reasonable payment level. Don’t be afraid to seek out the care you need.

In the End

Ultimately, anxiety doesn’t have to overtake your life. There are tons of tried-and-true methods to help you manage your symptoms so that you can enjoy life.

Whether you turn to an emotional support animal, a journal, some exercise, therapy, or something else entirely, if it helps you healthily manage your symptoms, then that’s great!