2020 may have been an introvert’s time to shine with the extra time spent at home but for many people, the hours of solitude and the threat of the virus weighed heavily on them and many people started to feel anxiety like never before.
From job loss to sick loved ones, it’s easy to look at 2020 and feel anxious about what could be around the corner. Dealing with anxiety isn’t easy but fortunately, there are ways to cope and manage it, so you can still live a good life. Here are 5 tips to help you out:
- Make time to relax.
If you’re an introvert who tends to work hard and is always in constant movement, you may have a heightened nervous system, always “on call” to any perceived threat.
It could be wise to start intentionally making time to relax. Whether you start taking CBD capsules for anxiety to help you unwind or start practicing meditation to help calm your mind, there are different things you can start doing daily to help you learn how to slow down.
- Incorporate relaxing movement into your routine.
Whether you’re an introvert animal lover who loves to walk your pet, or you incorporate a yoga routine at home, making time for simple yet helpful movement allows you to focus on something other than your anxiety.
The act of practicing yoga requires you to be present in your movements and breathing, which can help you calm the anxiety you’re feeling. Getting some fresh air can also help you feel more relaxed as you walk in your neighborhood. Even if you only have time for a 15-minute movement session, the benefits can be great for your anxiety.
- Learn breathing techniques for anxious moments.
There are various breathing techniques out there that many people who suffer from panic attacks or anxiety do to help calm their breathing in moments of high stress.
As an introvert, you may be prone to overwhelm and overstimulation. If you’re feeling overwhelmed and at a tipping point, learning how to breathe to calm yourself can be extremely helpful.
One example is lying down and closing your eyes. Put a hand over your heart and rib cage, while inhaling and exhaling through your nose. Focus on how you’re moving your breath.
While it sounds simple, focusing on how you’re breathing can bring you back to your center and away from your anxious thoughts.
- Consider talking to a therapist.
Even introverts need to talk to someone about all the thoughts we have going through our head. Keeping it all in can cause a lot of anxiety, especially if you are dealing with trauma or PTSD.
Talking to a therapist can help you get it out, which in itself is helpful for your anxiety, while also providing you with techniques and methods for managing your anxiety. Some people may need to see a psychiatrist if suffering from a panic disorder.
- Learn to recognize triggers.
There are different things that could set you off, such as a crowded place or even a work deadline. Learning what triggers your anxiety can help you to work through it and practice techniques that help you avoid those triggers setting off anxiety attacks.
Anxiety isn’t easy to experience and learning how to manage it requires focus and work. However, you can manage it, especially when you start to realize what sets you off and also, what calms you down. Whether you need a little extra calming support or want therapy, find what works for you so that you can live a more relaxed life, which can lead to a more peaceful one.
Thank you for this – and for all of your writing!
In terms of breathing methods, I find 4-7-8 breathing to be very effective in easing anxiety. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324417
Does anyone on Introvert Spring ever recognize and write about the fact that many introverts are perfectly happy, self accepting and well adjusted? We are not all struggling, lonely, underestimated, low energy and anxious. For some of us, it is a WONDERFUL way to be! The underlying message I constantly get from IS that even though we tell you it’s fine to be introverted, there is probably something terribly wrong with you.
This is a brilliant article. “Recognizing triggers” is a very valid point. It makes you aware before having an anxiety attack, especially when you are in such places where you have no one to take care of you. I have attacks when I feel stressed, so in such times I try to divert my mind. And that diversion can be anything, for me, it’s watching humorous movies, series, playing lexulous alone wor with my best friend; listening to feel-good music and all of them help me to relax.