Five Tips to Deal with Anxiety

A record number of people are feeling anxious and find it difficult to deal with this influx of stressors. Many are searching for new resources, insights and help on how to ease our day to day. But quandaries can be found much quicker by working through these 5 exercises, as outlined by Randy Taran, Founder and CEO of Project Happiness. 

1. Ask yourself reframing questions when you are experiencing anxiety.

• Am I safe right now?
• Am I safe enough to address the issue?  What is the first step?  
• Do I trust myself to work through this, either on my own or with my help network?

2. Be a detective.

• Try to recognize the symptoms early (spark instead of a flame).
• Physical: rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, dizziness, upset stomach.
• Mental: mental paralysis, rumination – stuck in a negative thought loop, feeling helplessness or trapped.
• What thoughts trigger your mental or physical reactions and how does it show up in your body?

3. Get out of your head and into your body.

• Feel your feet on the ground, seat in the chair, wind on your face – you are here, right now.
• Go for a walk – cortisol is running through your system, exercise helps balance you. 
• Listen to uplifting music
• Take one small step at a time….brush your teeth, get dressed, do one task. 

4. Mindfulness.

•  Being present with what you are feeling instead of stuffing it away.
•  Return to the breath, realize you are here, you are OK
•  Visualize the feelings lessen, then dissipate

5. Practice Gratitude.

• I’m grateful that I have shelter, food, my phone, friends, and family…What Author Chade-Meng Tan calls “little slices of joy.”
• Intentionally focus on what is working, rather than succumbing to the negativity bias and obsessing on what is not meeting your expectations.
• Gratitude as a regular practice results in more inner peace and greater life satisfaction.