Wouldn’t it be nice if anxiety was something that you could take one pill to address, and then it was done? Unfortunately, it’s not that simple. Anxiety tends to be an ongoing thing, and that means you need to figure out how to tackle it on a daily basis.
Some days will be easier than others. Sometimes that’s just because it’s a routine day without any big challenges. Other times, it will only work because you’ve prepared yourself properly for what you have to face. Then there are the days with the big test or presentation, or when an unexpected drama arrives to throw everything out of whack.
You’re not at your best when you’re experiencing the symptoms of anxiety. Even if it’s not a full-blown panic attack, shaking hands make it difficult to hold things or write stuff down, and it’s hard to concentrate with your heart racing and breath short. If you want to achieve and improve, you need some kind of coping strategy.
With that said, a little bit of nervousness can be a good thing. An adrenaline rush just before you step on stage (figuratively or literally) can be just the boost you need to elevate your performance. A little bit of anxiety is natural, and when harnessed correctly, it can be a powerful way to push yourself to improve.
So, how do you use anxiety without letting it dominate? Simple steps can include breathing exercises and meditation. In more serious cases, there are medications that can alleviate symptoms to a more manageable level, and therapy from a professional psychologist or psychiatrist can be an effective way to learn how your own anxiety works and find healthier ways to react to it.
It may be helpful to plan ahead. If you know there’s an event coming up that will make you particularly anxious, you need to target your behavior towards that. Make sure you’re properly rested beforehand, try to eat a nutritious meal (but not too much – you don’t want to be sick) and remove as many other potential stressors as you can.
If you learn how to deal with more regular anxiety and successfully develop good coping mechanisms, you’ll be better placed to deal with unexpected situations that can cause your anxiety to spike without warning, like if you’re in an accident. Planning and practice… that’s how you learn.
