Anxiety x Trauma/ April 5, 2022September 26, 2022

How to deal with anxiety constructively!♥

Hi Dear Readers!

To start out the week where I give you guys some examples of what could help in dealing with anxiety. In these last few years, the topic of mental health have been steadily increasing, particularly amongst the younger generations. People have become a lot more aware of the importance of taking care of our mental health. But I have noticed that it can be quite hard finding constructive ways, that actually make a lasting impact. So today I have decided to cover 5 ways to deal with anxiety constructively, although some of them seeming really simple. I have personally been dealing with anxiety for some years now, and I am used these daily!♥

Disclaimer: Only take what resonates with you from this post and leave the rest. You are on your own journey, and only you know what the best for yourself is. And always consult with your doctor or a health professional.

1. Look at the cause for your anxiety♥

NB: This can potentially be a tough point, as you could be doing some serious personal development. The last thing I want is to scare you away from the get-go. So, if this point seems too overwhelming, please feel free to skip to the next point. This is your own journey, and you have full control over what you wish to do.

I know I’m starting this out strong. This is probably the toughest point, but also one of the most affective ways on how to deal with anxiety constructively. Locating the particular trauma, trigger, etc. that causes your anxiety can help making it more manageable and tangible. On top of that, it can help you deal with your anxiety on another level, that is not just symptom treating, so you could end up seeing some lasting results. However, it may no be an easy thing to face your past, so deciding to seek therapy etc. should be a conscious choice. There is no right or wrong, the most important thing is that you do what feels right to you.

2. Essential oils♥

Now essential oils can be a bit of a “fluffy” topic for some people, which is completely okay. But they are absolutely remarkable. The oils can be really good for people who find it too overwhelming talking about their problems as some essential oils are also called wordless therapy. Certain essential oils are particularly good for anxiety. You get them in small jars that are easy to bring on the go. I always carry my go-to essential oils in my bag, just as a safety thing. 9 out of 10 times I never use them, because just knowing they are there if I need them is enough.

If essential oils have sparked your interest, look at my post Top 10 Essential Oils for anxiety, that covers which essential oils are particularly good for anxiety!

3. Do something you like♥

It sounds so simple, but it can really be a hard thing to do, if your anxiety is really debilitating. But when our anxiety is acting up, it’s typically because we become trapped in our heads thinking all sorts of disaster thoughts. So doing something you like, sports for instance, you remove your focus from your anxiety and onto what you are doing. Personally, I have found that my hobby of dancing is a great way for me to get out of my head. Playing Just Dance, or simply work some sick moves while blasting some good music are some of my favorite ways to deal with anxiety.

4. Make sure your basic needs are met♥

When it comes to how to deal with anxiety constructively, it’s about finding ways that aren’t counteractive to your goals. With anxiety being your body’s way of protecting you from danger, making sure your basic needs are met can help calm it down. So, making sure you have a solid foundation is only beneficial. Here are some examples:

Try to get a good night’s rest. When you sleep your brain processes the events of the day, it releases toxins, and your body resituates which all are important for your body to thrive.

Drink some water. Drinking water help flush out waste that your body doesn’t need anymore, and it will help you feel energized. As a bonus, drinking water is also really good for your skin. Though the amount of water your body needs depends on the climate you live in and your activity level. So please keep that in mind.

Eat some nutrient food. Eating some food is really important so your body gets the fuel it needs to get through the day. If you give your body the energy it needs, you will find that your way of thinking will start to change too. Where you might have been lethargic throughout the day before, you start to feel motivated and maybe even begin to think a few more positive thoughts during the day.

Notice I didn’t say eat ‘healthy’ or ‘proper’ food. I’m really against the distorted picture that diet culture has painted of food in general, something I will be making a future post about. I do want to promote that people eat the food that makes their body feel good and energized. But that are certain foods that can trigger for instance anxiety. Personally, my anxiety becomes a lot worse after having consumed sugar – particularly soda is a trigger. I want to make it very clear that I’m not saying that you should cut out sugar – #F*ckRestrictedEating. I still drink soda, etc., but I am now very conscious about that if my anxiety becomes worse after doing so, I know the cause. This has actually helped immensely, as I now don’t spiral as often after drinking soda.♥

5. Grounding elements♥

Grounding elements are probably one of the best ways to deal with anxiety constructively. Annoyingly enough, finding grounding elements (things that can help you get out of your head) is a very individual things, because not everything will work for everybody. I suppose you can say that about all ‘remedies’ for anxiety. However, I will mention a few of the things that work very well for me.

Ice cubes. One of my go-to’s when it comes to grounding tools is ice cubes. You can use them in a variety of ways: One of these ways are simply holding one in your hand. The cold sensation in your hand will take your focus away from the negative spiral of thoughts. If you have a friend, family member or a significant other you are comfortable with, you could ask them to place an ice cube on random parts of your body, for instance your stomach. Here it is the unexpected cold shock from the ice cube, that will move your focus away.♥

Lemons and chilies. Much like the ice cubes, lemons and chilies will move your focus away from your negative thoughts, this time through taste. Simply just bite into a lemon or a chili, and the sourness or spiciness will overrule the anxious thought.

Fresh air and Deep breaths. Something that may seem super too simple, but that is extremely effective is deep breaths. When anxiety starts to act out, our breathing can become shallower as we start to panic. This only causes even more distress. So, to counteract this, going outside or sitting down, and start taking some deep breath, will stop this spiraling. Start focus on taking really deep breaths so your stomach expands, will take your focus away from your thoughts. You can focus on breathing and think at the same time. With deep breathing your body gets the oxygen that it needs, so it starts to relax more. ♥

Even the most straightforward ways to handle your anxiety can prove to be the most effective. A general rule is to remove focus from your thoughts and onto something else. Try out what works for you and share your experience in the comments. Let’s help each other out!♥

To sum up, finding out how to deal with anxiety constructively is very much about making a conscious choice to change certain parts of your situation that aren’t working. You don’t have to start out with taking these giant leaps. It is much better taking small steps to try out what works for you. Lasting change will not come if you become too overwhelmed in the beginning. Have patience – your efforts will pay off!♥

Did you find this post useful? Please share it with your family and friends. I appreciate it! Just know, that no matter where you are in your healing journey right now, you are doing an amazing job. The hardest step when it comes to personal development is deciding you want to do something about your situation. Treat yourself with kindness and spread the love!♥

Love, Mie