Anxiety can sneak up on us when we need to be at the top of our game. When you start feeling those unwelcome unfamiliar pangs of anxiety, avoid caffeine. Coffee, tea and other caffeinated drinks increase your heart rate which can intensify anxious thoughts and feelings. Read on to discover four quick ways to stop anxiety in its tracks.
4 Quick Ways to Stop Anxiety in Its Tracks
#1. Stop what you’re doing.
As soon as you start feeling anxious, stop whatever you’re doing and focus on identifying what is making you feel anxious. There isn’t always a simple answer, but feeling overwhelmed or stressed are two typical culprits. Once you understand why you feel anxious, you can battle the source head on. For example, if you have an important meeting, clear your diary for the day and focus only on preparing for your session until you feel entirely prepared to go in and slay it.
#2. Breathe.
Controlled breathing is one of the quickest ways to slow down the heart rate and defuse feelings of panic. Breathe in through your nose slowly, counting to 5, hold for a few seconds, then breathe out slowly counting to 5 for as many rounds as required.
#3. Relax your muscles.
When we’re anxious, our bodies can leap into fight or flight mode leading to body temperature changes and sweating. A luxurious bath or hot tub session can work wonders in the evening, but if you’re at work or otherwise engaged, massaging a few pressure points on your hands and shoulders can help melt tension away.
#4. Go to your happy place.
Many anxiety sufferers find visualizing a happy place helpful when warding off worry or panic attacks. Where do you feel most at peace? It could be a deserted beach surrounded only by the calming sound of the waves, or a beautiful botanical garden.
