Coping With A Newly Diagnosed Anxiety Disorder
Anxiety is an extremely common mental health issue. But, when you’re the one diagnosed with it, it can feel like you’re alone and unsure of what to do. In fact, being diagnosed with an anxiety disorder could potentially trigger more anxiety.
Take a deep breath. First, recognize that you’re not alone. Millions of people across the world deal with anxiety, and it’s very manageable if you take the right steps and get the help you need.
With that in mind, let’s cover some tips you can use to cope with a newly diagnosed anxiety disorder.
Learn About Anxiety
Feeling anxiety and understanding it are two very different things. If you were diagnosed with a physical health problem, you would probably want to learn as much about it as possible. An anxiety diagnosis should be no different.
Educate yourself on what anxiety really is, what it can look like (including common symptoms), and where it often stems from. You can also research different treatment options and management techniques.
Knowledge is power. Anxiety can make you feel like you don’t have control, but educating yourself on the condition helps to put you back in the driver’s seat.
Practice Mindfulness
Mindfulness isn’t a new practice, but its effectiveness has made it popular over the last few years.
While it can take some getting used to, mindfulness is simply the practice of staying in the present. When it comes to managing anxiety, it can help you stay focused on the here and now rather than stressing about the past or worrying about the future.
Because anxiety tends to get worse when you focus on the unknown, mindfulness combats that by helping you focus on what’s going on right now. Close your eyes, focus on taking slow, steady breaths, and let thoughts pass you by like clouds you can’t grab onto. Just a few minutes of mindfulness daily can make a world of difference.
Get Physical
Most people recognize the importance of exercise for physical health. But it can also do wonders for mental well-being. Start exercising if you do nothing else after receiving a diagnosis.
Regular exercise can reduce stress, give you more energy, and improve your mood. You don’t have to run a marathon or join a gym. Find something you actually enjoy, like dancing or swimming. Or, join a few friends or family members daily walking around the neighborhood. Exercise is a natural mental health booster and a fantastic form of self-care.
Connect With Others
Anxiety can cause you to withdraw from the people you love and the things you enjoy doing. Unfortunately, that can make your symptoms worse. Again, it’s easy to feel like you’re alone after getting diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, so it’s important to remind yourself that you’re not.
Leaning on your support system is a great place to start. Your family and friends want to be there for you. Don’t be afraid to open up to them about how you’re feeling. Even if all you can do is “force” yourself to go out for coffee with a friend once or twice a week, it will help more than you might realize.
You should also consider joining a support group. Doing so will help you see how many others are dealing with anxiety. You’ll learn about other people’s stories and how they’re dealing with their symptoms.
Finally, don’t hesitate to reach out. Getting to the root of your anxiety is one of the best ways of overcoming it, and anxiety therapy can help you do that in a safe and neutral setting.
To find out more about my services, click here: Anxiety Therapy
