We all hear that it is important to “minimize stress” in our lives as a way to manage anxiety. While this is good advice, there are other things you can do to manage the physical or mental experience of anxiety.
- Work on your breathing. There are many good ways to do this – try one of the self-help apps for biofeedback. Exercises like yoga and tai chi also focus on breath.
- Try mindfulness or meditation. There is much discussion about these methods, if you are new to mindfulness or meditation, I recommend that you work with a professional to learn the techniques.
- Try psychotherapy. “Talking therapy” comes in many forms and all can be helpful for anxiety. In particular, CBT – Cognitive Behavior Therapy – has been shown to improve general anxiety as well as panic attacks.
- Minimize your use of psychotropic agents. This includes things like caffeine, alcohol, and over the counter antihistamines and sleep aides.
- Check your physical health. Make sure that you are up to date with your physical health checks. If you take medications and/or supplements make sure they are all necessary and working well for your body. Keep your weight within a healthy range and if you are a smoker, talk with your doctor about different options to quit.
If you or a loved on are in need of help please feel free to contact us at 919-636-5240.
Live Mentally Healthy,
Dr. Jennie Byrne