More than ever, we now hear words like stress, mental health, depression and anxiety.
It’s been really a hard time for millions of people all over the world since the outbreak of Coronavirus and what came with it; from lock-down, social isolation to financial as well as psychological suffering.
According to Anxiety UK, the word stress is usually used to describe the feelings that people experience when the demands made on them are greater than their ability to cope.
At such times people can often feel overloaded, under tremendous pressure and very tense or emotional. Stress affects everyone, young and old and is a completely normal reaction that all human beings will experience from time to time when faced with situations that they feel under pressure in.
Try these tips to get rid of anxiety and stress.
1.Take a deep breath
Deep diaphragmatic breathing is a powerful anxiety-reducing technique because it activates the body’s relaxation response. Try slowly inhaling to a count of 4, filling your belly first and then your chest, gently holding your breath to a count of 4, and slowly exhaling to a count of 4 and repeat several times.
2. Accept that you’re anxious
Remember, anxiety is just a feeling like any other feeling. Its acceptance is critical because trying to wrangle or eliminate anxiety often worsens it.
3. Question your thoughts
When people are anxious, their brains start coming up with all sorts of outlandish ideas, many of which are highly unrealistic and unlikely to occur.”
In these cases, challenge your thoughts and ask yourself these questions: Is this worry realistic? / Is this really likely to happen? / If the worst possible outcome happens, what would be so bad about that? / What might I do? / What might I do to prepare for whatever may happen?
4. Use a calming visualization
For instance, picture yourself on a river bank or outside in a favorite park, field or beach. Watch leaves pass by on the river or clouds pass by in the sky. Assign [your] emotions, thoughts [and] sensations to the clouds and leaves, and just watch them float by.
5. Use positive self-talk
Anxiety can produce a lot of negative chatter. Tell yourself “positive coping statements.” For instance, you might say, “this anxiety feels bad, but I can use strategies to manage it.”
6. Focus on meaningful activities
The worst thing you can do when anxious is to passively sit around obsessing about how you feel. It’s helpful to focus your attention on a “meaningful, goal-directed activity instead. The bottom line is, get busy with the business of life. Don’t sit around focusing on being anxious – nothing good will come of that.
7. Turn to Allah
Remembering that there is a higher power who is in control of the universe and everything in it shall offer solace and comfort to someone who feels stressed by their limited control.
Allah says in the Quran:
Do they not see that Allah-He Who created the heavens and the Earth and was not wearied by creating them-has the power to bring the dead to life? Yes indeed! He has power over all things. (Quran 46: 33)
Strengthen your connection to The Creator and rest assured that Allah, the Almighty is in control of everything and that He has the best plans for you.
Source: http://psychcentral.com/