Anxiety has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. It’s something I’ve dealt with in preschool, school, university, work, and relationships. Being sensitive isn’t easy and anxiety can sometimes make you feel like you’re going crazy. But there’s good news – it can be managed. With time and practice, you can learn to be less anxious and a little braver. When you’re feeling anxious, it’s important to slow down and take things easy.

Coping With Anxiety – A Mini Guide

How To Cope With Anxiety Naturally (5 Ideas To Try Now)

1) Decompress As Soon As You Can

If you’ve experienced a major stressful event or even just a particularly stressful day, it’s important to take some time to decompress. Find a comfortable place to relax as soon as possible and visit it as often as you need to.

If someone asked me how to cope with anxiety quickly, I would say “go to the most comfortable place you can find and do something you love.”

The reason this method works is because when you make your brain think about pleasurable things, it naturally starts to calm down and de-stress.

There are lots of things that can help with this – a relaxing atmosphere, soothing music, a purring cat on your lap, rain sounds or a calming guided meditation. If you’re into alternative therapies, using healing crystals can be really helpful as they create a sense of relaxation. Malachite is considered to be the most popular anti-anxiety stone.

I love taking warm baths! They’re so relaxing and therapeutic.

Forget about hair masks or leg shaving, these can wait! Try not to think about anything and concentrate only on the fantastic feeling of the water on your skin.

I like to sit in my bathtub for a good 30 minutes (I know it’s wasteful, but sometimes it’s the only thing that helps) and even though it doesn’t wash away my problems, it relieves tight muscles and that’s enough to feel a little better immediately.

2) Drink Valerian Root Tea Or Take Magnesium

Valerian root is an herb that can be very effective in helping to reduce anxiety. If you’re not allergic to it, valerian root can be found in many forms – tea, tincture, or tablet supplements – and it works by calming your body down. I usually drink valerian root tea with honey and it helps me to feel less tense and anxious in about 15 minutes. It also helps your body fall asleep since it’s a natural muscle relaxant. If you’re not familiar with valerian root or can’t find it where you live, magnesium is another supplement that gives a similar effect and is more available.

3) Write Your Thoughts Down

One way to cope with anxiety when your thoughts are running wild is to let them out. Writing them down can help clear your mind and give it a break. When I’m in the middle of a serious overthinking period, it’s often the only way to stop my thoughts from running around like crazy. If it’s just general anxiety, I use my Anxiety Journal to do some mindfulness breathing and thought dumping, maybe choose something from the Triggers & Helpers list to redirect my attention.

4) Talk To Someone You Trust

Talking to a trusted friend or family member can be helpful when you’re feeling stressed or anxious. They can offer helpful perspective and tips on how to cope with your specific situation. It’s important to find someone who is understanding and non-judgemental – you don’t need to listen to anything negative right now.

If you don’t have someone you can talk to or no one is available right now, it’s totally fine to use online therapy websites. There are many reputable websites that can offer support and resources.

5) How To Cope With Anxiety When Nothing Else Helps? Buckle Up And Let It Pass!

If my anxiety is really bad and nothing seems to help, I just try to do something easy and pleasant like watching TV. I remind myself that all thoughts, worries, and troubles will eventually pass – no matter how bad they seem in the moment. And if I can’t eliminate my anxiety completely, I try to learn to embrace it. It’s a part of me at the moment and that’s OK. It’s normal to feel sad or anxious sometimes, but I know this too shall pass. Even if an anxiety attack takes days to come down, I know I will come out stronger in the end.