Are You Contributing To Your Anxiety?

Are You Contributing to Your Anxiety?

 

Feeling a little edgy lately? We all experience anxiety from time to time, but did you know you could have habits that amplify anxiety symptoms? Take a look at some of these habits listed below that are likely amping up your anxiety, and see if you can try adjusting them for at least 2 weeks and see if it helps. I bet it will!

 

1. Stop skipping breakfast and/or lunch. Skipping these meals causes our blood sugar to dip, which in turn creates a similar feeling to anxiety. Are you anxious or just hungry? Eat breakfast within 30 minutes of waking up. Have some protein and healthy fat (eggs with avocado?) so your blood sugar stays even for hours. Do the same at lunchtime. Just don’t skip meals!

 

2. Monitor your caffeine intake. On days I’m feeling extra anxious, I skip the caffeine altogether. On regular days I don’t consume more than 2 cups of coffee (and never finish a cup for some reason). Caffeine doesn’t wake us up but creates a “revved up” feeling which can mimic anxiety. Know your limits.

 

3. Exercise, but select the right type for your body. When I used to train for competitions, I would do intense workouts. One exercise I did was strap 90 lbs to my waist and do bear crawls up and down the high school football field. Intense workouts left me shaking for hours afterward because my body was trying to tell me it was too much. Listen to your body and take it down a notch.

 

4. Turn notifications off on your phone. The first time I got a smartphone, I was anxious by the end of the day because the email and text notifications wouldn’t stop. This insidiously piled on the pressure to respond at all hours. Turn the notifications off and set hours for when you will and will not respond. This is called healthy boundaries.

 

5. Don’t agree to things when you’d rather say no. Your body will tell you if it’s a “yes” or a “no”. Toss the guilt aside and see if your body tells you yes or no. Pay attention to those cues and be true to yourself.

 

6. Don’t ignore your exhaustion or emotions. When I’m tired, everything feels more challenging and dramatic. When I’m busy and don’t check in with myself to see how I’m feeling or push past how I feel, I regret it. If you’re tired, get to bed earlier or say no to plans. If you feel emotional, pause and ask yourself, “What do I need right now?” Don’t ignore yourself. If you do, your body will begin to find ways to let you know what it needs, and it will often be unpleasant. Hi – I’ve been in the hospital for extreme adrenal fatigue.

 

Paying attention and working WITH ourselves instead of against ourselves is a game-changer. It takes daily practice and time to feel comfortable with these changes. Check-in with yourself frequently and make it a habit. I promise you will see a difference after creating these healthy habits.