How I De-Stress From Anxiety
I’ve always been one of those people who worry. It’s like my mind is constantly on overdrive, worrying about what might happen in the future or reflecting on things I wish I had done differently in the past.
The stress from all this anxiety was really starting to affect my life – until I decided to take action and get control of it once and for all.
Coincidentally, this decision came right around the same time that I stumbled across some great techniques for de-stressing from anxiety.
In this article, I’m going to share with you why I was so stressed, the steps I took to relieve stress, and which one worked best for me.
Why Was I Stressed?
Trying to figure out why I was so anxious in the first place was often a source of stress for me.
Connecting with friends, deep breathing, eating healthy, and stress journaling helped me gain perspective. Drawing also allowed me to express my emotions in a creative way.
All of this put together helped me understand why I had been feeling so overwhelmed, allowing for a smooth transition into taking steps towards relieving my anxiety.
Steps I Took to Relief Stress
As someone who’s experienced stress and anxiety, I’ve found that certain activities can help reduce those feelings.
Meditation, exercise, massage, sauna use, and art are all activities that I’ve personally used to relieve stress.
These activities each offer a unique way of relaxing my body and mind to gain a better sense of well-being.
1. Meditation
I once read that practicing meditation can help reduce anxiety so I decided to give it a go.
I found that by taking time to focus on my breathing and be mindful of the moment, I was able to find peace in my life.
Controlling emotions and calming thoughts were easier tasks once I learned how to meditate.
It really helped reduce stress and created positive vibes that stayed with me throughout the day.
By taking time for myself through meditation, I was able to better cope with anxiety and move on to more productive activities like exercise.
2. Exercise
In addition to meditation, exercising regularly can be a great way to feel more relaxed and in control. Incorporating yoga, exercise routines, or other self-care activities into my daily routine helps me manage stress levels and time better.
From running to lifting weights, I find that physical activity gives me an outlet for the anxious energy I’m feeling. Making use of massage therapy is also beneficial for calming my body and mind.
3. Massage
Massaging away tension helps calm my body and soul, while also providing a welcome distraction from worries. It’s an effective self-care tool that can break up the monotony of positive thinking exercises and music therapy sessions.
Socialising with friends can be difficult when dealing with anxiety, but massage is a great way to relax without making any demands on your energy.
I find that it encourages me to use other relaxation techniques like sauna, as it creates a sense of comfort and peace within myself.
4. Sauna
Saunas are a great way to help you relax and take your mind off the worries of the day. They offer various benefits, such as improved circulation and detoxification.
Sauna rituals, like pouring water on hot stones, can enhance the experience but for people like myself, I get anxious going into saunas with strangers.
So I found a way to enjoy sauna at home by treating myself to an infrared sauna blanket. It offers the same benefits as traditional saunas, which is very relaxing.
I find that I get more clarity and focus to keep up with the day ahead just by doing a quick 15 mins sauna every morning.
And with that newfound energy, let’s move on to explore how art helped me.
5. Art
Art can be a powerful tool for unwinding, allowing us to sink into another world and forget our troubles.
Creating art can help to express emotions that are too difficult to put into words, while art therapy is an excellent way of improving mental health.
Self-expression through painting or drawing has allowed me to process complex thoughts and feelings in an outlet that is both calming and joyful.
Taking art classes also gave me the opportunity to connect with like-minded people who understand what I was going through.
All these methods offer different ways of relieving anxiety – now it’s time to decide which one worked best?
Which One Worked Best?
For me personally, I find that saunais the most effective one that helped me de-stress. It made me sweat away in a short period of time, without having to spend an hour doing exercise to get a similar euphoria feeling.
I enjoyed it so much that it is now included in my morning routine. I feel more at peace and ready to start my day with less anxiety after the relaxing activity.