As someone who struggled with undiagnosed anxiety for YEARS before seeing a specialist after my second child was born, I am no stranger to the wild things that anxiety can do to your physical body. From breaking out in a random sweat to feeling every emotion in my gut, over the years I have learned with the assistance of professionals and Lexapro, how to cope with my condition. However, there are still days that I feel a bit out of control and cannot calm myself down despite all the things mentioned above.
On days when my anxiety is at an all-time high, here are things that I do to help myself.
Simple Movement. Key word here is SIMPLE. For me, this typically is yoga or stretching which helps me concentrate on my breathing and feel my tense muscles release. I have found a few different free yoga and stretching videos on youtube that have helped walk me through the process. Concentrating on what they are saying instead of what my racing mind is thinking helps me calm down.
Going outside. Now, I will be the first to admit this is easiest on the rare days when the weather is PERFECT, however, even on the coldest or hottest days, there is some sort of shock to the system that happens when I stand outside. Bonus points if I can stand in the sun or put my feet directly on the earth for a bit.
Logging off social media. I know I am not alone in this but I will get sucked into hours of scrolling whether on Facebook, Instagram, or Tiktok, I can waste time like a CHAMP. Sometimes I need it, the laughs at the silly animal or kid videos or the latest fashion tips, however, sometimes, social media is heavy. “Real life” shows a bit too much and on those days, I log off and spend my time reading instead.
CBD Bath Bombs. This is probably my best-kept secret. A local company here in Baton Rouge has CBD Bath Bombs – Mountain Pure CBD Bath Bombs These bath bombs have the perfect, not overwhelming smell and create the most relaxing hot bath experience. On the longest days, when I cannot seem to completely unwind. After my kids are asleep, this is my special treat. This help take the edge off of my anxiety and help me get the best sleep!
What do you do to help on your high-anxiety days?
If you are struggling with anxiety, know you are not alone. Anxiety is a medical condition that affects my everyday life. There are many resources out there that a medical professional can help you with to make your anxiety more manageable. If you ever want to talk to another mom who struggles daily with mental health, I am here. Shoot me a message, I would love to connect!
