Everybody feels anxiety at some point. Stressful situations, uncomfortable surprises and being under pressure can get your heart pounding and the anxiety rising. For most people, these things happen once in a while, for short periods of time. If anxiety starts interfering with daily life or if you are always on edge and feeling stressed, it might be time to address the problem.
Step 1
Find ways to relax. Try meditation, guided imagery, yoga or deep breathing. Not everything works for everybody, so you might need to try several things before you find something that helps you. Biofeedback and hypnosis might also work for some people.
Step 2
Search for a therapist. HelpGuide recommends trying cognitive behavioral therapy, which addresses negative patterns and can help you understand what's causing the anxiety in the first place. Once you understand those patterns, CBT can help you find alternative ways to react to them. For example, if you normally feel anxious about being invited to a party, the solution might be to approach and talk to people as soon as you get there, rather than waiting in a corner and feeling anxious about the strangers around you.
Step 3
Set up a list. If anxiety is a result of feeling overwhelmed, try breaking down your activities into steps. Instead of thinking you need to organize the whole house, break it down into steps, such as buying storage containers, discarding things you no longer need or want and organizing a specific room or area.
Step 4
Talk to your doctor if your level of anxiety is interfering with your everyday life. A number of prescription medications are available to treat anxiety, but according to HelpGuide, they must be used alongside other forms of treatment for lasting relief. Anxiety drugs can have troublesome side effects such as drowsiness, confusion, impaired thinking and nausea or stomach upset. Common anti-anxiety medications include alprazolam, sold under the name Xanax, and diazepam or Valium.
