Top tips to deal with stress and anxiety

In today's 24-7 society it can be easy to get swept away with busy-ness which in turn can lead to it being more difficult to relax and sleep at night.  Over a prolonged period of time this can lead to increased levels of stress and anxiety which in some cases can lead to feeling of panic.  As a start on this topic I thought I would share a few of my tips on what you can do if you are feeling anxious and stressed to become more  relaxed.

•         Realise that you are not the anxiety you feel.  You may sometimes have anxious thoughts and feelings but equally there are times when you feel different emotions for example happy, excited, sad, proud etc.  Realise that just like every other emotion anxiety also passes.
•        Do something each day to challenge your fear.  Just taking small steps and facing your fear will make a huge difference to your life.  Fear can only remain when you avoid what it is you are scared of and never challenge the thoughts and feelings that you have
•          When feeling anxious over a period it can affect your mood and your belief in your ability to do certain things.  Make an effort to focus on what you want and take actions towards that each day.
•          When feeling anxious and having anxious thoughts practice observing your thoughts and feelings rather than buying into and believing them.  Practicing Mindfulness is a great way to do this.
•          Do some exercise.  Even if that means just going for a walk exercise can help you to feel more positive.
•         Keep a diary which shows your progress in overcoming your fears.  This will help you keep momentum and focus on the positive steps that you are taking.         
•       You can change how you feel by changing your physiology (how you move and breathe), your focus and your language (the questions that you are asking yourself).  Notice the difference of what you do when you are feeling great and when you are feeling anxious.  Next time you are feeling negative change your physiology, focus and questions you ask yourself, maybe remember a time when you felt great and see how you feel!