04/16/2024
Tips for managing anxiety: Part 2
1. Practice mindfulness: cultivate present-moment awareness through mindfulness practices such as meditation, deep breathing, or body scans. Notice your thoughts and feelings without judgment, allowing them to come and go like clouds passing in the sky.
2. Accept anxious thoughts and feelings: instead of trying to suppress or control anxious thoughts and feelings, practice accepting them as normal and temporary experiences. Allow them to be present without getting caught up in a struggle to change or decrease them.
3. Mindful exposure: gradually expose yourself to situations or triggers that cause anxiety, while staying present and observing your reactions with curiosity. This helps build tolerance to anxiety and reduces its impact over time.
4. Practice self-compassion: be kind and compassionate toward yourself when experiencing anxiety. Treat yourself with the same warmth and understanding you would offer to a friend facing similar struggles.
You never heal by criticizing or belittling yourself.
Managing anxiety is a gradual process. By integrating these strategies into your life, you can increase your psychological flexibility and resilience in the face of anxiety.
Remember to reach out for support if your anxiety becomes unmanageable. Above all else, BE KIND TO YOURSELF.
