How I Cope with Anxiety

“Jeez, my chest feels really tight. I wonder why?” This is a question I have asked myself hundreds of times over the past several years. I am an asthmatic, so I thought this chest tightness simply resulted from that. So, I’d take a few puffs from my inhaler, take some deep breaths, and would feel a bit better. Fast forward a couple of years later, and the puffs and deep breaths were no longer working. After the pandemic these symptoms worsened and I just didn’t know why I was feeling the way I was feeling. I thought of possible medical issues, hoped and prayed it was “nothing” and assumed it would work itself out. Well, (shocker) it didn’t. I finally realized one day, while I was driving to the grocery store to pick up my online order, that I wasn’t “okay.” If just driving to the grocery store, knowing I didn’t even have to go into the store, was causing such intense feelings of “freaking out,” then I needed to get some help. And so, I did.
The following day I contacted my doctor and relayed my symptoms. She agreed that I would benefit from being on medication to help eliviate these feelings of anxiety. Since I was on medication in the past, dealing with depression, we agreed to return to that previous prescription I had benefited from before. After a few weeks I did see results, and was feeling less agitated. I also realized that I couldn’t just rely on the medication alone to “fix” me, that I needed to make some changes to my lifestyle to help battle my anxiety.
The first change that I made was to quit drinking wine every night. This was one of the things I looked forward to everyday, to relax on the couch with a glass or two (or three) of wine after putting the kids to bed. But did I really need this? For me, no, I did not. I’ll be honest, I mainly quit drinking because it was highly recommended to not consume alcohol on the medication I was taking, and I just didn’t want to take the risk of mixing the two together and then having a whole new problem to deal with. Yet in eliminating alcohol I recognized that I drank way too much to begin with and it was probably aiding in my struggles with anxiety, and not in helping me to truly relax like I had originally thought.
Adding exercise and more movement into my weekly routine has also been beneficial. Getting up and moving my body helped me to release tension and clear my mind from any stresses. Incorporating strength training, walking, and some yoga a few times a week, just made me feel better about myself, which is very important for a healthy mindset. When you sit and wallow in your fears and anxiety, you can fall deaper into an unhealthy mindset, yet in moving, your body will produce endorphins that will give your mood a boost. Regular exercise and movement are known to decrease depression and anxiety. 
Another small change I made to help reduce anxiety was to focus on eating more whole foods and proteins, and drinking water throughout the day. Throughout my health journey I’ve noticed that I feel less tired and sluggish when I incorporate fruits and vegetables into my diet. And when my body is feeling good and energetic, it is then able to collaborate with my mind in also feeling good and positive. In order to increase my water intake I make sure my half gallon water bottle is always close by. I find that if water is in reach I’m more apt to drink it frequently than if I had to actively seek out water throughout the day. Drinking water has many benefits in itself, but it also decreases depression and anxiety in adults. 
The most beneficial tool that I have learned to use in easing anxiety, is to “listen” to myself. I know it may sound cliche but it undoubtedly helps. When I would experience a really intense wave of anxiety I would ask myself, “what do I need to help me relax and calm these feelings?” The answers could vary but mostly I needed comforting and “feel good” mediums, such as watching a favorite movie while snuggling in bed, reading a captivating book in my favorite chair, participate in a yoga practice, being around the people that make me feel safe or give me a laugh. Doing this would help push any nervous thoughts from my mind and bring me clamness and clarity, because I was focusing my energy on something besides my anxiety. When I focused on the thoughts or situations that started my anxious feelings, I learned it would only make the matter worse and sometimes unbearable. It is crucial to find the things that make you center yourself and bring you to the place that sees situations in a unanxious state. 
While I understand that every person is different and has different levels of struggle, I hope this post helps at least one person realize that they are not alone and it is “okay” to ask for help. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness, but of strength. The stronger we are for ourselves, the stronger we can be for the people around us who are counting on us everyday. Using skills and coping mechanisms will help in this journey of strength. Everything is a process, but its up to ourselves to be willing to make a change for the better. Starting is always the hardest part, but you will be so glad that you did. Invest in yourself and find the ways that best support you, so that you can cope with your anxiety too.