Symptoms of anxiety have been affecting approximately 36% of people in the United States since March of 2020. No matter the cause, anxiety can look like stress, panic attacks, racing thoughts, excessive worry, health concerns, or the feeling of inadequacy.
Unlike reacting to the anxiety symptoms through one time coping skills, learning how to respond consistently to our needs throughout time can lay the ground work for inner resilience, power, and control.
Practicing coping skills sometimes isn't as "fun" as people make self-care out to be. Just like any intentional change, you won't be perfect within a day, a week, or even a month. However, the long term benefits will allow you to grow and change into the person that you want to be.
Here are four ideas for sustainable response, rather than reaction to symptoms of anxiety
Practice developing curiosity, rather than judgement towards your thoughts, feelings, and emotions (#Mindfulness)
Connect with at least one person every single day who builds you up. During COVID-19, this connection may look like a skype or facetime call with a loved one (#AllInThisTogether #COVIDCounseling).
Reduce your social media and news intake.
Engage in one activity or hobby that brightens your day and gets endorphins flowing (#Baking #Walking #Crafting #Hiking #Swimming).
Reaching out to a licensed mental health professional can help provide an unbiased, non-judgmental opinion on what might be keeping you stuck in the "anxious rut." (#MentalHealthMatters).
Pivot Counseling, PLLC offering BCBS covered telehealth and in-person therapy for individuals struggling with Anxiety, Depression, Relationships, and Eating Disorders in Durham, NC. For more information regarding individual counseling, please go to www.pivotcounselingnc.com, or follow us at www.instagram.com/pivotcounseling or www.facebook.com/PivotCounseling