10 ways I cope with having Anxiety.

So I'm going to be exploring more of my lifestyle side of the blog with this post and it comes related to some personal issues I've been going through in my life. So you may have noticed that some of my posts aren't as regular as they used to be. My Outfit Of The Day, Dress Of The Week and Friday Favourites posts have been quiet over the past couple of months and even more so in the last couple of weeks. The reasons for this is is that I've been having personal issues in my life that I've been having to deal with so blogging hasn't been a priority of mine.

I am not sure I've even mentioned this before but I have big problems with my Anxiety and Depression which makes any normal problem for some, an even bigger one for me. I have been going over ways in which I do things which could alleviate some of the bad feelings I've been having and creating coping strategies which will put me in a better place.

What I'm writing in this post won't help everyone I know that, I'm just sharing what I know helps me deal with my anxiety and depression. I'm in no way a qualified professional. 

When things feel overwhelming, I do the following:

1. Take a step back, create some time for myself and relax
   I think it's really important to create some time for yourself. I know it can always seem hard to do if you're always busy but when life feels too much, I stop making other people a priority and think about what I need. So I tend to crawl up in bed with a duvet and put Netflix on and watch something funny. I ALWAYS turn to The Office (US) or Parks and Recreation to cheer me up, and it always works without fail. Haven't seen them? well you should. I promise, they're everything.
   
   
2. Keep talking to people
   I know this sounds obvious but I cannot say enough how talking has helped me. I try to be open and honest with the people in my life; my parents and close friends all know what I'm dealing with and whilst they may not think they can help, just having someone to listen to you is more than often enough. It does feel like a weight has been lifted off your shoulders when you tell someone what you're going through and you never know, someone you speak to may be feeling somewhat similar and you won't feel alone.
   
3. Talking to my employer
   One of the best things I did after I was diagnosed was turn to my employer. Once I opened up, they offered to put me in touch with their health service which gave me 6 free sessions of counselling. I then went onto another job, I told them about what I was going through and they also referred me to the occupational health department who offered me free counselling. It can specifically hard opening up to work colleagues but I found it benefited me more than anything, because then when I was having a hard day, my colleagues would know why and would try and help me.
   
   
4. Exercising; or more specifically, running the hell out of a treadmill
   Yet another 'mental health' cliche but I took up running (on the treadmill so I could watch Netflix on my tablet at the same time...umm) but still, it helped so much! I started by setting myself small goals and then they quickly got bigger and the achievements were doing so much for my self-esteem. I felt running really just got all of my frustrations and anxieties out, even if just for a little bit.
   
5. Distraction
   Like watching television, distraction can be very good for anxiety even in the short term. If I'm not feeling anything on Netflix then I'll grab one of those 'adult colouring books' that are really popular at the moment. I find colouring in really distracting and soothing. Amazon have a fantastic selection and I heard that Poundland even do them now. This may not work for everyone but I like having something to focus on.
   
   
6. Breathing activitiesOn one hand, I can find it really patronising when people tell me to 'breathe' if I'm having a panic attack but my therapist recently started doing breathing exercises with me and they are fantastic. I find a quiet space and I just focus on everything around me and take big, deep breaths. If you're unsure on how to go about these, try YouTube as they'll have plenty of tutorials.
   
7. Treat Yo Self!
   I make sure I look after myself by treating my body regularly. I can't do this any more as I no longer have a bath (sob) but having long, bubble filled baths surrounded by candles, were really relaxing and  helped calm me down. I know it seems like stating the obvious but you really shouldn't underestimate the power of a bath and candles. I might also treat myself to anything I've been wanting to buy recently like small beauty items.
   
   
8. Spending time with my friends and family
   As soon as I feel even a little bit down or anxious, I try to spend time with my friends or family. Being in the comfort of people I care about really changes perspective for me and I more or less end up feeling better. I like to organise meet ups or even just a family dinner surrounded by the people I love. It's important for me to upkeep my relationships with people I love as I know I then have positive surroundings.
   
   
9. Plan, plan plan!
   Whether that's booking a gig or a holiday, I like to make sure I always have something to look forward to. I find myself more down than usual when I don't have anything planned so I make sure there's always something to do. Keeping busy as well always helps to distract me.
   
   
10. Cutting out junk food and caffeine
    This is by far not an easy one to do at all and I'm ashamed to admit that I don't always stick to it but I've always found that my mental health improves vastly when I'm eating healthily and not drinking caffeine. Plenty of water and vegetables not only clear up your skin and help you lose weight but I definitely notice a significant boost in my moods. I know this is one that is repeated time and time again, but it's so true! It really does go hand in hand with exercise and whilst it may not be a "cure", it's so beneficial in the long run.

So those are the things which I do to help relieve my anxiety and depression. My battle with this is very long and ongoing so I'm constantly finding new ways in which to cope with it.  I've noticed in the blogging world that more and more people are opening up with their experiences and it's great to read because you feel less alone. I think it's beneficial to share your experiences with other people although that may not be the case for all of us.