Anxiety’s pretty shit. It can feel like someone’s hit the panic button in your brain and there’s no off switch, so how do you deal with anxiety when it starts to spiral? We asked for your top tips and you served us up some nuggets of advice.
1. Focus on things outside of your brain
Don’t think about cheese.
Did you think about cheese? Of course you did.
The thing is, trying not to think about anxiety (or cheese) usually makes you think about that stuff even more. It’s just the way our brains work. Instead, try shifting your focus onto something else.
Anxiety can make it feel like the world is caving in and it can be really hard to stop the spiral. Sometimes the best way to deal with it is to do something you enjoy doing.
Got a niche hobby? It doesn’t matter if you’re into unicycle hockey or collecting rocks, just do something you love. Watch TV, listen to music, play football with your mates - whatever it is will help you get out your head.
Here’s some of your tips:
2. Shake it out
It might be the last thing you want to do right now, but stop scrolling and move your body.
Step outside for five or physically shake out your arms and legs. You might look a little strange but trust us, it can help release some of the nervous tension in your body.
You don’t need to grab the lycra and head for a twenty mile run to reap the benefits of exercise, just a ten minute walk round the block can get those feel-good endorphins flowing. It might not magically cure your anxiety, but it could just help you feel a bit more in control of your worries.
Here’s some of your tips:
3. Set aside time to worry about stuff
Stop things bubbling over by making time for your worries once a day.
You might be wondering why you’d make time to worry, but sometimes when you ignore your worries completely they can bubble to the surface in a bigger way.
Once a day take 15 mins to acknowledge the stuff that’s making you feel anxious or overwhelmed. Write that shit down, then think about whether you can do anything about it. If the answer’s yes, make a plan to tackle it. But if the answer’s no, try to let it go.
Here’s some of your tips:
4. Talk to a mate about it
Often things aren’t as bad as they feel. Sometimes you just need a mate to remind you of that.
Mates are normally pretty good at telling us when we’re being silly - so if you’re finding it hard to pull yourself out of the anxiety funk, drop ‘em a message or see if you can meet up to chat.
We’re not gonna give you the problem shared is a problem halved spiel, BUT, talking can really help you get stuff off your plate. So hit up someone you trust instead of trying to deal with anxiety on your own.
If you feel like anxiety is overwhelming and taking over your life, speak to your local GP who can help you move forward. Or, if you feel like you can't see a way forward or are thinking of hurting yourself, talk to CALM - our helpline is there to help you find a way to move forward and feel better.
Here’s some of your tips:
5. Oh and a lot of you recommend dogs…
It’s hard to feel anxious when your dog is doing something hilarious.
You don’t need to have a dog (or any cute animal tbh) to enjoy their anxiety-busting potential. Borrow one from a mate, or just watch some dog videos online. It might sound a bit weird but there’s actually some proper science stuff behind why these funny animals can make you feel better, but we won’t bore you with that today.
Here’s some of your tips:
If you’re struggling with anxiety, or anxiety is taking over your life, you’re not alone. In fact, 8 million people in the UK have an anxiety disorder.
We know it can feel overwhelming. That’s why CALM is here to help. We've got loads of tools and tips to help you feel better.
