How to Reduce Anxiety and Stress in the Moment

I used to experience extreme anxiety and other forms of stress until I adopted these helpful pieces of advice

Photo by Craig Adderly — Pexels

Anxiety can be hard to deal with, especially for those who experience stress more than others.

I used to suffer from severe cases of anxiety, constant panic attacks, and occasional bouts of depression.

It wasn't until I adopted these helpful tips that I was able to reduce my overall stress and eliminate those pestering anxiety attacks.

So, let's dive right in.

Remember: You are Safe, you are Loved, you are Worthy

We often experience anxiety because of external conditions, like an upcoming job interview or an angry neighbor.

But other times, anxiety can kick in for many unknown reasons, some less obvious than others.

I used to suffer from random panic attacks. I could be driving home from work, on my way to the movies, or alone playing video games when my heart suddenly felt like it was trying to escape from my chest. My breathing would pick up or sometimes become so shallow that I had to remind myself to breathe.

I'm not actually in danger during these circumstances, but I felt like I was. Whenever this happened, I had to remind myself, "I am safe, loved, and worthy."

You are Safe

Anxiety can happen for various reasons but is well-known for being a part of the fight-or-flight response.

Our brains are hardwired to react to dangerous situations, but more often than not, these situations aren't as scary as they may seem.

I was driving to a friend's house when suddenly my heart started palpitating, and my breath began to grow uneven. Having suffered from panic attacks for some time now, I knew what was coming.

I thought about where I was and where I was headed, contemplating why I felt the way I was. But, of course, I couldn't think of a reason, so I reminded myself that I was safe.

Nothing terrible or unexpected could happen.