So you have anxiety.  So do over 40 million Americans. According to the World Health Organization, so does 4% of the world’s population, so you are not alone. Don’t be ashamed, it happens. The real question is how can you prevent an anxiety attack. Here are a few tips to help you manage your anxiety.

1. Stop and breathe. Many times when someone has an anxiety attack they say I can’t breathe. The good thing is if you are talking, you are breathing. When you start to feel like an anxiety attack is coming on, take a few deep breaths and focus on something. There is a toy called the Stress Hog that you can squeeze if you are feeling stressed out or feel an attack coming on. Grab it and focus on squeezing it as you breathe. As you inhale, squeeze it and hold. As you exhale, slowly release it.
2. One relaxation technique is meditation. I have mentioned before how this can help with stress. Along with this, yoga is great to help ease anxiety. Try either one of these out but also make sure you are getting enough sleep at night. Great sleep can help you prepare for the next day.
3. One of my favorite ways to cope with anxiety is physical activity. Get outside and take a walk. Getting some fresh air, listening to nature, and getting the heart pumping helps reduce stress. Regular exercise or some form or physical activity helps stress hormones and promotes overall well-being. You can pay for a gym membership or take a walk through nature for free. If you live close to a river or stream, take a walk there and close your eyes and listen. The peacefulness of the water flowing can make everything so much better.
4. Creativity can help promote positive energy and activities like, writing, painting, woodworking will help you relax. One of my favorite things to do when I see people having an anxiety attack is to make people laugh. It is a huge distraction and they focus less on what is going on with them, and what is going on with the other person. 
5. Lastly and most importantly in my opinion is don’t go through this alone. Like I said millions of people suffer from anxiety. Reach out to your friends for help. Maybe someone is your friend group or even a family member has gone through this and have some other tips and tricks that helped them. Connecting with others can provide emotional support and get rid of all those feelings of isolation.

Remember you are not alone. If you need support you can email us here at The Lost Meander at thelostmeander@gmail.com or call 800-662-4357 which is the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Also don’t forget to tell your doctor as they might be able to guide you to other services. Remember you are not alone.

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