When learning ways to balance out anxiety we have to take into account several factors at play. Anxiety is both biological and psychological. The biology is something that we are born with, the psychology part is what we learn. So when we talk about balancing out anxiety, please keep that two pronged definition in mind when reading the following tools to balance out anxiety.
Ways To Balance Out Anxiety Biologically
1) Look at your diet and clean it up. Diet is not about weight loss, it is about overall health. If you have anxiety, caffeine & sugar can be major contributors to increasing anxiety. See a good nutritionist or naturopathic MD to help you balance your diet and fine tune any allergies or sensitivities that you might have.
2) Explore Eastern & Western medicines. There are prescription medications from the WEstern world which work for many people. There are Acupuncturist and Chiropractors and natural supplements. You have to find the right path for yourself biologically.
Ways To Balance Out Anxiety Psychologically
3) Learn about how cognitive distortions in your thinking patterns can increase anxiety. When you change your thoughts and are reality based in your thinking you can talk yourself down. Cognitive/behavioral techniques can be very effective in managing your anxiety.
4) Practice mindfulness, meditation and breathing techniques. In the moment, when you are starting to experience anxiety symptoms stopping an breathing can help calm your mind. Practicing a mindfulness exercise can refocus your attention from your physical symptoms onto something else, thus distracting your brain from escalating in worry.
5) Decrease your Stress. Learn to say no and don’t over book yourself. Practice shutting off electronics 1 hour before bedtime to let your body wind down and get primed to go into a restful sleep.
Anxiety is a complex biological and psychological issue that is very manageable. Everyone is different and you have to have a team to help you with the right combination to work for you. There is hope and you can get a handle on anxiety. Start out by seeing your MD and then take the next step of learning new tools to balance out anxiety.
If you think that cognitive/behavioral counseling might help you and you are interested in learning more about managing anxiety, give me a call today at my San Diego office to set up an appointment.619-687-9013 #balanceanxiety