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How can I get rid of anxiety?

52 Answers
Last Updated: 04/30/2018 at 11:55pm
1 Tip to Feel Better
United States
Moderated by

Brenda King, PsyD

Psychologist

I treat life changes, women’s issues, and issues of aging using evidence-based treatments with healthy doses of warmth, empathy and humor to enhance healing and growth.

Top Rated Answers
T1taniumx
September 10th, 2014 11:07pm
Getting rid of anxiety is a lot about yourself. You have to realize that you want to fix it and then take the initiative to do something about it. Going to a counselor who can support you through your anxiety is also highly recommended.
Anonymous
April 22nd, 2015 8:13pm
It's not easy to get rid of it. But it takes practice. Plan the worriness by using some techniques. Plan your schedule try to keep yourself busy. Breathe - inhale and exhale most important to get oxygen is air :) Give yourself a break by relaxing and using those relaxing techniques, such as watching TV/Film, listening to music, pray, etc.
FeliciaCares
September 11th, 2014 4:16am
You may not ever get rid of anxiety altogether. Either way as I see it, whether it's long term & possibly genetic or more reactionary such as related to PTSD, it becomes a powerful habit & the brain becomes used to making pathways this way & reinforcing itself. But from experience [sporadic, up & down] I know that CBT or even simple CBT exercises, relaxation such as audios with imagery or meditation, & [I know it sounds cliched!] deep breathing from the diaphragm. Like the guide mentions I find distraction really useful as well because the brain can only focus properly on limited things at a time so taking it off 'anxiety track' cuts off the fuel for those bad thoughts. Basically evolutionary psychology would hint that some of these traits can be ingrained due to our history but honestly it can improve so much with practice [the more you practice, the more your self-reassurance, reality checking & self soothing can be reinforced].
Anonymous
August 11th, 2015 10:52pm
I found it always helpful to think of three things I can see, two things I can hear and one thing I can feel.
904shirts
November 19th, 2014 7:10pm
try training your mined to other things and try praying every day and see what heavenly father says
Anonymous
November 19th, 2014 12:28am
It's not about "getting rid" of it, but more so being able to cope and live a regular daily life with it. Through understanding what makes you anxious and how those paranoias developed, you will be able to have shorter episodes and also less frequent experiences of anxiety. This link may be helpful for some tips http://www.helpguide.org/articles/anxiety/anxiety-attacks-and-anxiety-disorders.htm#selfhelp and feel free to talk to a listener whenever in an anxious mood!
dominique15
November 18th, 2014 11:04am
When you’re feeling anxious, you might feel stuck and unsure of how to feel better. You might even do things that unwittingly fuel your anxiety. You might hyperfocus on the future, and get carried away by a slew of what-ifs. What if I start to feel worse? What if they hate my presentation? What if she sees me sweating? What if I bomb the exam? What if I don’t get the house? You might judge and bash yourself for your anxiety. You might believe your negative, worst-case scenario thoughts are indisputable facts. Thankfully, there are many tools and techniques you can use to manage anxiety effectively. Below, experts shared healthy ways to cope with anxiety right here, right now. 1. Take a deep breath. “The first thing to do when you get anxious is to breathe,” said Tom Corboy, MFT, the founder and executive director of the OCD Center of Los Angeles, and co-author of the upcoming book The Mindfulness Workbook for OCD. Deep diaphragmatic breathing is a powerful anxiety-reducing technique because it activates the body’s relaxation response. It helps the body go from the fight-or-flight response of the sympathetic nervous system to the relaxed response of the parasympathetic nervous system, said Marla W. Deibler, PsyD, a clinical psychologist and director of The Center for Emotional Health of Greater Philadelphia, LLC. She suggested this practice: “Try slowly inhaling to a count of 4, filling your belly first and then your chest, gently holding your breath to a count of 4, and slowly exhaling to a count of 4 and repeat several times.” 2. Accept that you’re anxious. Remember that “anxiety is just a feeling, like any other feeling,” said Deibler, also author of the Psych Central blog “Therapy That Works.” By reminding yourself that anxiety is simply an emotional reaction, you can start to accept it, Corboy said. Acceptance is critical because trying to wrangle or eliminate anxiety often worsens it. It just perpetuates the idea that your anxiety is intolerable, he said. But accepting your anxiety doesn’t mean liking it or resigning yourself to a miserable existence. “It just means you would benefit by accepting reality as it is – and in that moment, reality includes anxiety. The bottom line is that the feeling of anxiety is less than ideal, but it is not intolerable.” 3. Realize that your brain is playing tricks on you. Psychiatrist Kelli Hyland, M.D., has seen first-hand how a person’s brain can make them believe they’re dying of a heart attack when they’re actually having a panic attack. She recalled an experience she had as a medical student. “I had seen people having heart attacks and look this ill on the medical floors for medical reasons and it looked exactly the same. A wise, kind and experienced psychiatrist came over to [the patient] and gently, calmly reminded him that he is not dying, that it will pass and his brain is playing tricks on him. It calmed me too and we both just stayed with him until [the panic attack] was over.” Today, Dr. Hyland, who has a private practice in Salt Lake City, Utah, tells her patients the same thing. “It helps remove the shame, guilt, pressure and responsibility for fixing yourself or judging yourself in the midst of needing nurturing more than ever.” 4. Question your thoughts. “When people are anxious, their brains start coming up with all sorts of outlandish ideas, many of which are highly unrealistic and unlikely to occur,” Corboy said. And these thoughts only heighten an individual’s already anxious state. For instance, say you’re about to give a wedding toast. Thoughts like “Oh my God, I can’t do this. It will kill me” may be running through your brain. Remind yourself, however, that this isn’t a catastrophe, and in reality, no one has died giving a toast, Corboy said. “Yes, you may be anxious, and you may even flub your toast. But the worst thing that will happen is that some people, many of whom will never see you again, will get a few chuckles, and that by tomorrow they will have completely forgotten about it.” Deibler also suggested asking yourself these questions when challenging your thoughts: •“Is this worry realistic? •Is this really likely to happen? •If the worst possible outcome happens, what would be so bad about that? •Could I handle that? •What might I do? •If something bad happens, what might that mean about me? •Is this really true or does it just seem that way? •What might I do to prepare for whatever may happen?” 5. Use a calming visualization. Hyland suggested practicing the following meditation regularly, which will make it easier to access when you’re anxious in the moment. “Picture yourself on a river bank or outside in a favorite park, field or beach. Watch leaves pass by on the river or clouds pass by in the sky. Assign [your] emotions, thoughts [and] sensations to the clouds and leaves, and just watch them float by.” This is very different from what people typically do. Typically, we assign emotions, thoughts and physical sensations certain qualities and judgments, such as good or bad, right or wrong, Hyland said. And this often amplifies anxiety. Remember that “it is all just information.” 6. Be an observer — without judgment. Hyland gives her new patients a 3×5 index card with the following written on it: “Practice observing (thoughts, feelings, emotions, sensations, judgment) with compassion, or without judgment.” “I have had patients come back after months or years and say that they still have that card on their mirror or up on their car dash, and it helps them.” 7. Use positive self-talk. Anxiety can produce a lot of negative chatter. Tell yourself “positive coping statements,” Deibler said. For instance, you might say, “this anxiety feels bad, but I can use strategies to manage it.” 8. Focus on right now. “When people are anxious, they are usually obsessing about something that might occur in the future,” Corboy said. Instead, pause, breathe and pay attention to what’s happening right now, he said. Even if something serious is happening, focusing on the present moment will improve your ability to manage the situation, he added. 9. Focus on meaningful activities. When you’re feeling anxious, it’s also helpful to focus your attention on a “meaningful, goal-directed activity,” Corboy said. He suggested asking yourself what you’d be doing if you weren’t anxious. If you were going to see a movie, still go. If you were going to do the laundry, still do it. “The worst thing you can do when anxious is to passively sit around obsessing about how you feel.” Doing what needs to get done teaches you key lessons, he said: getting out of your head feels better; you’re able to live your life even though you’re anxious; and you’ll get things done. “The bottom line is, get busy with the business of life. Don’t sit around focusing on being anxious – nothing good will come of that.”
Anonymous
November 13th, 2014 9:40pm
I have anxiety and it took awhile for me to accept this but there is no "get rid of", it is just leaning to mange it so that you can reduce the levels of anxiety over time. Therapy really helps and medication does too. I would try going to a professional for therapy and medication if needed
HelpfulCow
November 10th, 2014 10:27pm
Find out what it is that you are afraid of. What's the worst-case scenario? And what is the best? If you are anxious about meeting new people, than it is likely that you are afraid of rejection. The worst-case scenario is probably that someone doesn't like you. But then you have to know that not everyone will like you. The more people you meet, the more nice people you will meet, the more friends you will get. So now go outside and do the thing you're afraid of. This will help you to get over the anxiety
smileforawhile
November 4th, 2014 8:49pm
I think over time, we learn to cope and deal with it better. We start to conquer our anxiety triggering situations. Things that cause extreme anxiety, eventually won't cause as much anxiety. I think by becoming more comfortable with anxiety triggering situations, the anxiety won't be as strong because you're not uncomfortable.
Dylana
October 27th, 2014 6:00pm
Push yourself to be confident. I, personally, am a not so confident person. The only difference between Try and Triumph is a little UMPH!
Dreamit2880
October 26th, 2014 4:46pm
Whenever I've gone through anxiety, I have tried to have my mind focus on something else for the time being and my anxiety decreased when I was putting my mind and focusing on something else. I have also used a lot of self talk to motivate myself to not get myself down so much.
happyhelper3
October 25th, 2014 2:28pm
Everyone has a different method to help with anxiety, you just have to find the one that best works for you
ChrisRabin
October 22nd, 2014 11:07pm
Well, anxiety is brought up by certain things. I think if you take these 'subjects' and study your enemy, you'll be able to overcome it :)
rachyy
October 7th, 2014 3:06am
For test anxiety, the technique I would do to relieve my nerves, is review all the info the night before, and not any time else before the test, because if i prepared myself well enough I shouldn't need to review before, and procrastinate. Because when I do procrastinate I feel rushed, and it causes me to freak out even more. I also take deep breaths before the exam, to calm myself down, and remind myself its only an exam its not a life or death situation. And lastly, throughout the test if i panic I flip the test over take some deep breaths in and out, and close my eyes and try to retain the info I have reviewed the night before! I hope this helps!
Felixcoys98
September 22nd, 2014 7:41pm
You can get rid of anxiety by putting negative thoughts out of your mind and taking up a sport that makes you happy
Payton1223
September 22nd, 2014 3:46pm
How did I get rid of anxiety? I learned to accept it. I came to understand that anxiety and stress are there for a reason. They help prepare you for the challenges you are about to face and it is important to realize that they are assisting your body instead of being afraid of them. Learn to let them help you. It changes your life.
Anonymous
October 27th, 2014 2:52am
Do things that make you relaxed like listen to a favorite song, yoga and meditation are also crucial anti-anxiety activities to do.
Merritty
September 17th, 2014 7:08pm
Listen to music, read.. Watch T.V. Surround yourself with people who care. Laugh, enjoy life like there's no tomorrow.
Anonymous
July 20th, 2015 4:41pm
Accepting that I'm anxious if i am.I believe that accepting reality will help me to get rid of anxiety
dadacult
September 8th, 2015 6:29am
most times medication helps. but the best solution for it is taking a deep breath and occupy your mind. don't overthink, don't get bored, don't let bad toughts install. distract yourself with things that bring you joy. whenever the sensation attacks, take another deep, deep breath. talk to someone.
PoliteOcean
September 7th, 2015 3:07am
Everybody is different and this is not a one answer fits all. You have to do what works for you. You can start with simple things such as journaling your thoughts, or meditating or deep breathing exercises. Or engage in other calming activities that interest you. But if its starting to get out of control or interfere with everyday life or routines then perhaps seeking help through a trained professional can help. Such as a counselor or therapist. Or even your own healthcare provider who can prescribe meds if needed.
Flinch101
June 10th, 2015 9:01pm
You can't "get rid" of anxiety, at least not if it's a disorder. There's a difference between regular anxiety and an anxiety disorder: Normal anxiety is something you can deal with effectively at the current given moment when you're facing the anxiety or it just passes on its own after maybe 30 minutes or an hour (it varies). An anxiety disorder, such as GAD (which is what I have) is something you'll never fully be able to get rid of, but something that with time, practice and patience you can master and gain control of it. I was diagnosed with this disorder about a year and a half ago. The beginning was the worst; I literally felt like I was losing my mind and had a constant feeling of "losing my mind" simply because I just could not stop the anxious feelings I had. Thinking about the wrong thought at any given moment would just bring on an attack and it was torture. I'd even abandon my friends when it happened sometimes. I still have it to this day, but it's so much more under control now. The point to all of this is, although you can't get rid of your anxiety, you can master control over it. Reading about what anxiety is and why it's caused is very beneficial. They say knowledge is power, and when you read about the very basis of an anxiety disorder, it helps you understand what it is and why it's there, which in turn helps you deal with it effectively. Also, if all else fails, do NOT be ashamed to go seek medication. It does not mean you are weak, it does not mean you are going to be viewed differently, but it does have the possibility of helping you gain back control. I had taken some medications to help and once I started to realize that it was possible to gain control of the anxiety myself, I weened myself off. There are so many ways to deal effectively with this disorder. Seek out websites, forums, ask your doctor or psychologist, etc. While you can't "get rid" of an anxiety disorder, you CAN control it with practice, patience, and resources.
SmileYoureBeautiful
October 7th, 2014 9:01pm
Anxiety is very difficult to just "get rid of". But there are ways you can lessen it; for example: Remove yourself from anxious situations if possible (not all the time, only when necessary) ,focus on your breathing when you become anxious, you can also try and distract yourself, whether its by reading a book, playing a game or talking to someone.
cuddlySun33
April 30th, 2018 11:55pm
try to meditate and do yoga ! try head space is a mediation app only like 5 to 10 minutes ! also gym helps a lot !
rabiahx
April 3rd, 2018 8:11pm
You can't ever get rid of anxiety. It just sits deep inside you and it comes out to play in different scenarios. There are many forms of anxiety and knowing which one you have, can help you understand it more.
VaughnA
September 4th, 2017 9:41am
It can take a long, long time to completely get rid of anxiety, and sometimes it stays with us forever. What you can do now is take things one day at a time and find coping mechanisms that work for you. If you encounter an obstacle, forgive yourself and keep going. As you become more experienced with regulating your emotions, your anxiety will naturally be reduced, and you'll find it much easier to deal with the anxiety that you do encounter. Remembering that you've gone through this before and have the strength to do it again can greatly help.
jakfullofwandering
September 5th, 2016 4:37pm
I many times start and end my day with meditation. Plus, there are many apps for your phone that have helpful tools that you can carry with you to utilize throughout the day.
Anonymous
July 25th, 2016 8:57am
Confide in someone you trust and make sure they treat you well. Engage in enlightening activities that make you happy and content.
purplesocks
May 17th, 2016 4:29pm
The truth is, you really can't. However, you can manage anxiety. Anxiety can be so overpowering and can block all sense of rationality. Try talking to a friend about what you're thinking and feeling, letting them know you're in this current state of worry. They can probably offer you reassurance. If no friend is available, do something that you know relaxes you. Read a book, watch a movie, listen to some music etc.