12 Ways To Every-Day Calm

More and more of us are looking for ways to quieten anxious thoughts. Our toolkit of 12 tips can help you feel cool-headed, strong and in control.

 

- Helen Foster

IT’S NATURAL FOR YOU TO FEEL worried from time to time, but if these feelings start to become intrusive, then help is at hand. An estimated 8.2 million people in the UK officially experience anxiety, so if you’re one of them, we don’t need to tell you what it feels like: something will start your mind wandering and focusing on negative things, causing you to fear the worst, even in the simplest situations. Sometimes, those feelings manifest in physical symptoms such as fatigue, restlessness, muscle tension, a feeling of doom and maybe even panic attacks. ‘That’s another real difference between anxiety and simple worry,’ says behavioural health consultant David Durand (serenahouse.com). ‘Simple worry doesn’t tend to create a physical response.’

ANXIOUS OR JUST WORRIED?

Other differences between the two are that worry is specific, such as a concern about missing a flight, whereas anxiety is more general – worrying about the whole journey and what might happen when you get there.

Worry also tends to be short-lived, whereas anxiety can last for weeks, months or even years. In fact, to be officially classed as having an anxiety disorder, all the above needs to be happening to you on most days for a period of six months. If it gets to that stage, your GP can refer you for talking therapy to address anxious thoughts or offer medication. But, you don’t need to be at that stage to start working on getting the feelings in check by yourself. Here are some natural, proven and drug-free solutions that have worked for many in times of anxiety.

1 FOCUS ON YOUR FEET