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Coping With Anxiety In The Midst of Anxious Situations

And How I Personally Use These Tricks to Calm Myself down No Matter How Anxious I May Be in a Certain Moment

By Joel JuniorPublished 6 years ago 2 min read
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Nothing is worse than anticipating the worst case scenario before you get up on stage to speak in public, sing, or perform. Experiencing that first wave of nerves before going on a date or jumping in to a job interview can be just as bad. All of these situations can bring anxiety to anyone, but those who deal with anxiety on a consistent basis will find these situations almost unbearable.

I've dealt with my own type of anxiety for years. Every person has a unique approach to dealing with anxious situation, and the symptoms of the anxiety affect each person differently. My own anxiety would cause me to lose all appetite. The "fight or flight" response would kick in, enabling me to be ready for battle the moment I'd go on a date, perform on stage, or eat out with friends. No matter how your anxiety affects you, the ways of coping with it are almost always the same.

Discover What Triggers Your Anxiety

Most people know after several years of what it is that causes their anxiety. Whether it's a certain thought or a feeling, you know what hits you right in your head and gets you all riled up. Once you've discovered it, your goal is to be extra careful with yourself and breathe deeper when such a thought enters your mind once again. You need to know how to either avoid or better handle it when such trigger hits you.

Relief Strategies

If you have ever gone through an anxious feeling and experienced a moment of relief, you know the shift in your body and mind that hits you, right? It's almost angelic. You're nervous for this date but the moment you go home, the rush of the anxiety disappears and you're suddenly normal again. Your goal is to feel this sense of relief even during an anxious moment. Find what helps you relax. Sometimes, a certain song you listen to can change your mood and help you cope with the stressful situation. Eating certain food, chewing on bubble gum, or even solving the rubik's cube are all coping mechanisms that can help you calm down and not focus so much on what's at hand. These little tricks take your mind off of what's troubling you and puts you in the present moment.

Brain Games

Let's face it, your brain dictates a lot of the anxiety. Next thing you know, it's hitting your body and you can feel the nerves in your stomach like a big pit, and then you can feel the sensations flow throughout your legs and toes. Your brain may be powerful, but lucky for you, you can control it. Simple math games can drastically help you stop overthinking. Count backwards from 100 by 3. You would count 100, 97, 94, 91, 88, and so forth. Change up the numbers. Small mind games like these can help you cope. What's great about this is that you aren't even bothering other people or making a scene of it. When anxiety hits you, count backwards and no one will notice it.

Coping with anxiety when it's already hitting you on all cylinders is the worst feeling. It can make you feel lost and stuck, as if you need this moment to end to feel relief. You can experience relief even during a stressful situation. You don't need to wait it out. These techniques work like a charm when utilized effectively and with the will to use them. Your brain likes to play tricks on you, but little does it know who's truly in charge.

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