Tackling Anxiety - self help

Anxiety sucks. There's no two ways about it, it's awful. It attacks you physically and mentally causing panic attacks, shaking, feeling sick, headache, a crazy rapid heartbeat and the inability to get on with your day to day life. But how does anyone begin to tackle anxiety?

I am one of the most headstrong, stubborn and proudest girls I know.
I HATE asking for help and I HATE letting people know when I need support. 

Before I came to university I was a bright, bubbly, confident girl but over my first year I developed anxiety. It developed to a stage where I wouldn't go into university if I wasn't taken in, I wouldn't go anywhere by myself, I even stopped going into university on the days that my course seminar groups were mixed up. I became reliant on my everyday routine and it took a dramatic toll on my life, my behavior and my relationships with friends. I became a shell of myself and looking back, I don't know nor do I like the girl that I became which is one of the hardest things to accept.

I told myself over and over again that I was fine and that I didn't need to talk to anyone about how I was feeling. Trust me, BAD MOVE!

These are the steps I took to get me back to a stronger, bubblier, more confident self.

• Acknowledge that you don't feel good, or well in yourself. If you deny your thoughts and feelings, you're denying yourself of getting on and ENJOYING your life!
• Speak to someone you really trust, someone that will give you that constant support you need i.e. family!
• Identify the problem. Why are you anxious? Notice the time of day when you feel anxious, who is around you? Where are you? How can you solve this, whilst maintaining a normal, healthy routine?
• Set yourself goals! Start little and build yourself up. Keeping pushing and challenging yourself.
• Look into 'mindfulness', practice your breathing especially when you begin to feel anxious so that it doesn't take over your mind.
• Tackle the problem head on. Its scary and at times horrible, but why should you suffer? Why should your life be hindered? Don't forget that GP's can help too!
• Look into counseling. There are so many free helplines to call, these can be found on http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/pages/mental-health-helplines.aspx
• Tell yourself that you are amazing. Tell yourself that you can do it because you are not defined by this illness and you are certainly not weak!
• And last but not least, don't let anyone walk over you, no matter who they are! No one deserves to be made to feel as if they are beneath anyone else.

  
Since dealing with anxiety I have learned so much about myself and continue to keep growing every day. My next goal is to smash my exams in a few weeks time and try to keep my stress levels to a minimum!

I realize this blog is quite long... And probably not for everyone (forgive me its my first time) but if I was to make just one positive impact on someone who is tackling anxiety that would be good enough for me! If you are suffering with anxiety, please remember that it does not define you, nothing but YOU can define you. 

Keep pushing, you're a lot stronger than you think!