How self-care helps with anxiety
Living with anxiety is no joke and it isn’t easy even at the best of times. It’s exhausting both mentally and physically and it can be hard to ask for help sometimes. - Either you don't want to admit that you need help or those around you don't understand why you NEED the help in the first place.
The truth is not everyone will understand what you’re going through, and unless a person has gone through it too it’s going to be difficult for them to understand.
Honestly, I used to get angry at this, but then I realised that it’s not their fault. I don’t know what it’s like to lose a limb and so I can’t relate to an amputee. They are just going through the same thing.
So, what DO you do when you feel overwhelmed and need help?
While it’s good to be able to rely on others for help, not everyone will have that. Some need to find a way to ‘help themselves’. And yes this can be incredibly difficult.
So how do you help yourself?
By learning how to self-care.
One of the most powerful strategies that have helped me with my anxiety is learning how to self-care.
This goes beyond running bubble baths and scheduling time out, it’s really about taking care of yourself the same way you would take care of a sick friend. It’s about loving yourself enough to learn how to be kind to yourself.
As simple as it sounds, it's very effective. So how do you start self-careing?
How to be kind to yourself (self-care)
When you live with an anxiety disorder you may have a tendency to be too hard on yourself, beating yourself up for any little mistake. Your mind becomes your own personal bully, bringing up all your most painful memories and overthinking all the time.
That’s exactly why self-care is so important. It shuts that bully up, replacing it with kinder, nurturing thoughts towards yourself.
It helps if you imagine yourself as two parts to a whole: one, a nurturing mother and the other her sick child. You are both.
If a loving mother sees that her child is sick she takes it to the doctor, makes sure it gets the right treatment and medication then makes sure it takes them.
You need to be your own nurturing mother in this case. If your doctor prescribes an anti-anxiety medication that is helping you, then taking those medications daily is how you practice self-care.
Practising self-care can go well beyond just taking your meds though, make sure you are eating right, and leading a balanced lifestyle. Get out and explore your world. Have fun with your life and allow yourself to enjoy life and find and feel happiness. When you feel like a failure, remind yourself of your strong points, remind yourself that you matter.
Make it a habit to constantly remind yourself that you are both the child and the nurturing mother. Learn to take care of yourself on all levels to help yourself.
Remind you of all your strong points, forgive yourself for your mistakes (we all make them) and promise yourself that you’ll do better next time.
This is what true self-care looks like and it’s one of the most powerful tools when it comes to healing from an anxiety disorder.
So, how do you practice self-care?
Some of my favourite strategies ( the ones that really helped me the most) are:
1- make sure you are eating right
This may sound basic, but taking care of your body and your health plays a huge role in taking care of your mental health. For one you will feel better and have more energy and secondly you will feel proud of yourself that you’re taking care of yourself.
One way to ensure that you eat healthy is to pre prep your meals the day before. That means preparing overnight oats the night before, chopping up veggies to roast for supper in the morning and having healthy snacks on stand by for when you get the nibbles.
2- schedule time for fun activities outdoors then stick to it
Nature has a way of making us feel balanced and happy.
So make some time to get out into nature, even if it's only for a few minutes a day. You could go for a walk around your neighbourhood every second evening, or even just do some gardening once a week. Anything that gets you outside, and into nature.
3- make sure you take your meds
This is a big one. It’s so easy to forget to take your medication, especially if your day gets too hectic or overwhelming, but this is exactly what will help you cope with a heavy day. Make this a priority, even if you need to set an alarm to remind you.
4- put yourself first
If you're in a situation where you are pressured to do something stressful that’s waaay out of your comfort zone, and that you know will trigger a panic attack, learn to say no. You don't have to do something just because your friends or family pressure you into doing it. Learn to politely decline, and stick to your guns. It may be difficult at first, but soon people will realise that they can’t MAKE you do anything you don't want to do.
When it comes to anxiety disorders, self-care means practising real love and compassion for yourself.
This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to using self-care to manage your anxiety. If you’re interested in getting more guidance and help I have just the thing for you. I've created a guidebook that can help you learn how to be kinder to yourself through self-care.
If you’re ready to learn how to nourish your mind and body, boost your self-esteem and take control of your mental health too using self-care strategies that actually work then my “Thriving From Within” ebook bundle is for you.
Packed with easy-to-follow, step-by-step guides and invaluable printables, this ebook bundle will help you Revamp Your Mindset and boost your self-care routine.
Whether you're starting from scratch or looking to boost your self-care routine, this bundle is your roadmap to a healthier, happier you.
