Having occasional feelings of anxiety is a normal part of life, but people with anxiety disorders experience frequent and excessive anxiety, fear, terror and panic in everyday situations. These feelings are unhealthy if they affect your quality of life and prevent you from functioning normally.
Common symptoms of anxiety disorders include:
- Feeling nervous
- Feeling helpless
- A sense of impending panic, danger or doom
- Increased heart rate
- Hyperventilation
- Sweating
- Trembling
- Obsessively thinking about the panic trigger
Here are some of our tips to help manage anxiety:
- Slow down, stop and breathe
When anxiety flares, take a time out and think about what it is that is making you so nervous.
- Keep Active
Exercise is a very powerful stress reducer. It can improve your mood and help you stay healthy. Whenever you feel overwhelmed, go for a walk, run or just simply meditate or do some yoga. Getting enough exercise can also improve sleep and the body’s response to stress.
- Limit caffeine
Caffeine can stimulate the nervous system and increase anxiety and panic attacks.
- Get enough sleep
Adequate sleep helps the body deal with stress. Get at least 8 hours of sleep each night as lack of sleep can lead to anxiety disorders.
- Eat well and stay away from sugar
It may be tempting to reach for something sweet when you are stressed, but chocolate can do more harm than good, as research shows that eating too much sugar can worsen anxious feelings. Instead of reaching for candy, drink a glass of water or eat protein instead.
If you have any questions then don’t hesitate to contact our health care professionals.
Our Dr Jeanina is a Counselling Psychologist and she can help with anxiety management, depression, stress reduction, cognitive behavioural therapy and relationship dynamics.
Click here to book an appointment or call us on 0207 838 6180 or email us on contact@cpmedicalclinic.com