How to Deal With Anxiety: A Guide for Young People.

Anxiety is a very normal feeling. We all have felt it from time to time. In this article, we will explore what anxiety is and how you can deal with it in your everyday life. Here are 5 ways to deal with anxiety:

Take a deep breath

Deep breathing is a very common technique that can help decrease the symptoms of anxiety. When you feel anxious, it’s important to take slow and deep breaths from your diaphragm. This helps lower blood pressure and reduce dizziness or lightheadedness

Breathe in slowly through your nose. If you feel anxious, breathe slower, by taking long deep belly breaths till you relax. It can also be helpful to talk yourself down - try using words like "calm" or "safe."

Talk to a friend or someone you trust

There are many reasons why anxiety may feel like an unfamiliar feeling. You might be anxious because you're going to a new place with people you don't know, because the consequences of something happening are likely dire, or even just frustrated with your day. Expressing yourself to another person can help relieve some pressure and show others how things could have been handled differently that might not have led up to the anxieties you currently face.

Go back to the basics

It's never easy to face an uncertain situation or challenge without feeling nervous. Sometimes when basic needs aren't met, such as sleep and eating well, we can feel anxious and out of sorts. Make sure you are looking after your physical health this week - focus on getting good sleep, eating well, and doing some type of physical activity - and see what difference it makes. It might seem like caffeine or substances like tobacco would make us feel better in the moment but that doesn't happen for long as this can increase anxiety. Instead, choose a healthier way to relieve anxiety by focusing on self-care rituals throughout the day.

Incorporate calming activities in your daily routine

A lot of us feel anxious around the same things all the time, or periodically when facing something new. You might find your anxiety is more intense when you get a reminder of that feeling, be it from overhearing someone texting while walking down the street at night or getting angry over somebody else's comment on social media.

Try to spend at least one hour doing an activity that makes you feel better like reading a favorite book, drawing, journaling. Try and limit the things making you feel anxious like constantly refreshing news feeds or watching videos online that might trigger those memories in your mind.

Look for additional support

Anxiety seems to be an ever-present issue for people who are constantly struggling with their mental health in one way or another. If anxiety is continually interfering with your daily life, you may be experiencing anxiety that is out of proportion to what would normally happen in situations that cause stress. We encourage you to find support from someone else like community services or health facilities.