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This month is Mental Health Awareness month and is really near and dear to my heart because for the last 5 years I have learned how to cope with my anxiety.

Here’s the back story… I lived most of my adult life thinking it was normal to feel like I was breathing through a straw and feeling my heart race for no reason. I thought it was normal to worry about something I said or did years ago or simply not go out because I overly worried about what I was going to wear, who I was going to see or the thought of socializing was overwhelming in itself. As silly as it sounds, I was SO used to living life this way, I didn’t know anything was wrong. I just repeatedly told my family and friends that I didn’t feel well. And it was sort of the truth, I didn’t feel well inside but I honestly thought it was normal.

It wasn’t until I went to a doctor’s appointment for what I thought was the flu that I finally realized that what I was experiencing was in fact, NOT normal. They took my  heart rate and my doctor was in shock at how high it was. She told me that if I wasn’t in good health I could have a heart attack. I told her I felt overwhelmed but this happened to me sometimes and then out of no where I just started crying. That’s when I was diagnosed with anxiety. I was put on medication but over time I have been able to cope without medication by using these 10 tips. I found out what worked for me through trial and error. I am not “cured” from anxiety, and I never will be. It is something I will always have to live with forever and when it gets to a point where I feel like I can’t cope, I have no problem with getting on medication again.

I am sharing my story  and ways I cope with anxiety because I think we should all fight the negative mental health stigma and ultimately, sharing our stories help make all of us feel like we are not alone.

*I am not a mental health professional. This advice comes from my own trial & error when coping with my own anxiety. Seeing a health professional is always a good option when dealing with anxiety and/or depression.

Here are my 10 Ways I Cope with Anxiety

1. Use a planner

I recommend this because knowing your schedule helps reduce anxiety. I use keep the Google Calendar App on my phone and I also have a personalized paper planner from Plum Paper.

2. Read a self help book

I have several books I keep on my bookshelf that help motivate me. Sometimes I get so deep in the hole that I feel like I need to find the motivation to recenter myself and refocus on my purpose. Below are some of the books I recommend and have read.

3. Drink a lot of water

I am not sure if this is a personal thing, but I notice when I do not drink enough water my anxiety is greatly increased. I love the water bottles that keep you on track all day. I got mine from Healthish but I also found some affordable ones on Amazon for you.

4. Deep breathing

When I start to feel my anxiety creeping up on me, I do 5 big breathes with a slow exhale and that will do the trick sometimes.

5. Reciting my list of things I am grateful for

I have a little list of things I appreciate. I repeat my mantra… I am thankful for my health, my family, my pups, how blessed and fortunate I am, etc..etc…etc. This has always helped ground me and reminds me that my problems are only temporary.

6. Talk to someone

My biggest issue when I feel anxious is that I do not like to put my issues on anyone else. It makes me feel like I am sharing a burden I should be able to handle myself. So my husband is my go-to person. We talk about everything and he knows how to help make me feel better.

7. Do something that makes you happy

When I am back on the up swing from a funk, this is what puts the icing on the cake for me and gets me on a good path. This can be anything from painting, to listening to music all day, a self care night, going shopping or getting a hair cut.

8. Exercise

For me, the thought of exercising may cause me anxiety (especially when I know I haven’t done it in awhile.) If you are the same, think small. You don’t have to go to the gym and start lifting all the weights. Going for a walk is a great first step and helps reduce anxiety.

9. Cut back on your to-do list

This is the hardest thing for me to do because I am a people-pleaser by nature. But when your to-do list starts to affect your mental health, you need to learn to say no to people. Recently with my growing blog and social media presence, I’ve had to learn to say no to opportunities that aren’t directly supporting my future goals and economic growth. It’s been hard but overall is liberating.

10. Talk to Your Doctor

When the simple tricks aren’t enough to keep your anxiety in check, it’s totally okay to talk to your doctor about how your feeling. They can recommend therapists, medicine and their own ways to cope with anxiety. Don’t be ashamed!

What are some ways you cope with anxiety?

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