Anxiety is something that keeps people working toward their goals; it motivates them to keep achieving. According to MayoClinic.com, some of the symptoms of anxiety include feeling powerless, sweating, panic, having a sense of doom, apprehension, trembling and feeling weak. It is important to understand that you do have power over your anxiety symptoms; the sooner you learn to manage them, the less likely they will be to develop into something more severe, such as an anxiety disorder.
Step 1
Get plenty of sleep. Having problems sleeping is one of the symptoms of anxiety. Make sleep a priority. Lack of sleep can make you fatigued and less able to handle the daily stresses of your life. Seven to eight hours of restful sleep every night will reduce your anxiety levels. Prepare for sleep. Brush your teeth and wash your face every night an hour before you need to be asleep. Remove any televisions or computers from your bedroom. Set up your bedroom so that it is quiet and very dark. Go to bed at the same time every night, and get up at the same time the next day.
Step 2
Learn how to relax. When you are anxious, your muscles can become tense, your heart will pound, your breathing will quicken and you may experience headaches, notes HelpGuide.org. If you learn how to relax, you will be able to control these symptoms of anxiety. Practice deep breathing when you feel your body begin to tense up. Count to 10 when a person makes you mad or says something to increase your frustrations. Do something relaxing everyday. Join a yoga class.
Step 3
Accept that you cannot control everything. According to HelpGuide.org, people who experience a lot of anxiety tend to have trouble with doubt and unpredictability. Acknowledge that you cannot control the future even if you plan for it. Let go. Allow things to happen. Do not attempt to control them. Challenge your desire to have all the answers.
Step 4
Challenge your pessimistic views. People who are anxious tend to always assume the worst outcomes will occur, and they highlight the negatives and dismiss the positive, notes HelpGuide.org. Take steps to change the way you think. Notice when you are having negative thoughts. Ask yourself if your negative thoughts are realistic. Question whether or not the negative outcomes can actually occur. Replace your negative thoughts and outcomes with realistic positive thoughts or outcomes. Stop yourself when you dismiss the positives. Regularly do this until you naturally begin have more positive thoughts.
