|  | Mental Health | Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety Coping Strategies

Anxiety is an emotion that triggers a physical response. General symptoms vary, but tend to include an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, dizziness, sweating, nausea, dry mouth and even tremors. Certain types of anxiety can be desirable, described as "butterflies in the stomach" in reference to riding a roller coaster or anticipation of a first kiss. However, most anxiety is unwanted and uncomfortable, varying from a simple fear to a psychological disorder. Coping skills can help manage unwelcome anxiety symptoms.

  1. Defining Anxiety

    • Anxiety is often a fear of something that one cannot control. Psychologists use both behavioral and cognitive therapies to manage and treat different forms of anxiety. Additionally, some forms of anxiety benefit through drug treatment. Regardless of the type of anxiety or how it is treated, simple self-help strategies are beneficial in coping with anxiety and allow sufferers to regain some control.

    Learn to Relax

    • Breathing and relaxation techniques are perhaps the most common methods used to cope with anxiety. Deep breathing and progressive muscle relaxation are coping strategies that are easy to learn and use.

    Channel Anxious Energy

    • Exercise is a good way to channel anxiety symptoms positively; regular workouts may decrease overall anxiety by helping people maintain a sense of well-being. Yoga is a coping method that combines deep breathing with exercise.

    Reducing Stress

    • Since stress triggers the body's fight or flight response, it can intensify anxiety. Finding ways to decrease daily stress, such as learning time management, will help control anxiety.

    Dietary Recommendations

    • Some people believe that certain foods can trigger anxiety and recommend dietary changes as a coping method. Decreasing or eliminating caffeine consumption has been beneficial to some people. Some favor using alcohol to decrease social anxiety, but use in moderation or it may have an adverse effect.

    Drug Therapy

    • Drug treatment for coping with occasional anxiety includes benzodiazepines, which control some of the physical symptoms for a short duration, according to WebMD. Longer-term drug treatment using antidepressants may treat both some of the symptoms and possible causes of anxiety. If a specific social setting causes the anxiety, some people find that relieving the physical symptoms with a beta-blocker decreases the anxiety to a manageable level.

    Medical Disclaimer

    • Anyone who feels that anxiety interferes with day-to-day activities or disrupts daily thoughts or behaviors, or who feels an existing level of anxiety has increased, may benefit from seeking medical advice.

Anxiety Disorders - Related Articles