7 Immediate Anxiety Relief Techniques and Methods
When we struggle with anxiety, it can be extremely difficult to carry on with our daily life. We can feel physical symptoms such as dizziness, shortness of breath, and a racing heart. Plus, we can also feel powerless and terrified that something really bad will happen to us.
If this sounds too familiar to you, you will benefit from various anxiety relief techniques. These methods should help you change your mind, calm your body, and focus on positive thoughts.
Here are seven immediate anxiety relief methods and techniques:
Breathing exercises for anxiety
If your mind is racing, you can try mindful breathing to calm it down. Train it to focus on only one thing: your breath. This exercise will also help calm down your body whenever your heart beats way too fast and you feel lightheaded.
Mindfulness is all about being fully present at the moment. With mindful breathing, you use your breath as an anchor to help you achieve this goal.
It really can be as simple as sitting in a comfortable position and placing one hand on your chest, and one on your stomach as you slowly breathe in through your nose and breathe out through your mouth.
Visualization techniques for anxiety
However, being fully present is not always the best way to relieve anxiety. If you feel scared and worried, it could be a good idea to close your eyes and visualize a safe and happy place while practicing mindful breathing.
Think of a place, real or imaginary, where you can feel safe, comfortable, and calm. Imagine what this place looks like, smells like, and sounds like, as well as how it makes you feel. Your mind and your body should slowly relax.
Mental health clinic for anxiety
When anxiety is untreated, it can lead to depression. If you cannot find relief on your own, take a step towards healing and seek professional help.
You could, for example, spend some time at a welcoming mental health clinic. On top of being provided with personalized treatment in a nurturing environment, you will be able to engage in relaxing activities that will help you feel better. Like everyone else, you deserve to live a happy life, free from anxiety.
Writing down thoughts to help anxiety
Making a gratitude journal and writing in it whenever you feel anxious is another simple activity that should bring you some relief.
Write down anything you are grateful for, anything you enjoy about your life, and anything that makes you smile. If ever you are too anxious to think of something positive to write, simply read what you have previously written in your journal to help change your perspective.
Art therapy for anxiety
Engaging in art therapy can help reduce your anxiety to feel better. But what is art therapy? It could be anything you want, from colouring in a colouring book to knitting a warm sweater.
Try doodling, drawing, painting, writing, painting your nails, moulding play dough, making bath bombs, or doing all the fun crafts you enjoyed doing back when you were a child.
Focusing on colours, shapes, and textures to create something can relax your body and bring your mind to a happy place, away from your daily worries.
Outdoor therapy for anxiety
Whether you are simply going for a short walk in the park or hiking through a forest path, spending some time in nature will help reduce your anxiety.
Moving away from the situation that caused your anxiety, breathing some fresh air, spending some time in the sun, and seeing beautiful trees, flowers, clouds, and birds is a sure way to feel better.
Exercises for anxiety
Exercising your body releases endorphins, which help boost your mood and fight anxiety, stress and depression. Moving your body should help you feel better whenever you feel too good.
Of course, there are many different ways to move your body. You can go for a long walk, dance to your favourite song, do some jogging, do yoga, do some exercises on an exercise mat, or go to the gym for a full workout.
No matter how you like to move, you will be rewarded with endorphins that will increase your well-being.
Epsom salt bath for anxiety
Anxiety often comes with muscle strain and tension. To relieve this tension and calm your mind, take a long hot bath at the end of a long day or whenever you need it.
You can add some epsom salts to the water to help relieve the tension in your body and surround your bathtub with scented candles that will comfort you with their pleasant aroma and their warm glow.
Taking time to relax and to pamper yourself should help relieve your anxiety.
