Mental Health Awareness Week: Anxiety

Mental Health Awareness Week: Anxiety

Every year the Mental Health Foundation runs a campaign for Mental Health Awareness Week, this years theme is anxiety. Anxiety is a normal emotion in us all, but sometimes it can get out of control and become a mental health problem. In support we have created this blog full of helpful tips and ways to manage anxiety or moments when you are feeling anxious. 

The 4-7-8 breathing technique

Taking control of your breathing can be the first step in calming down when you are feeling anxious. Try closing your mouth and quietly breath in through your nose, counting to four in your head. Hold your breath and count to seven. Breathe out through your mouth, making a whoosh sound while counting to eight. Repeat three more times for a total of four breath cycles.

Challenge your thoughts

Once you have calmed your breathing, you migth be able to try and challenge your thoughts. Anxiety is typically your bodys fight or flight response, but this can happen in situations that don't actually cause you any harm. Try and challenge your self to thing 'what am I worried about happening?, is this actually likely to happen?'. This might make it easier to tell yourself that you have nothing to worry about.

Talk about how you feel 

It can be really difficult to share our anxieties with other people, we may feel embarrassed and fear that they will judge us. But talking them through outloud can be one of the best ways to gain a deeper understanding of them and even sometimes take away its power over you.

Keeping a diary

Keeping a diary can help you keep track of your worries and further understand them. You might be able to find triggers which you hadn't thought of before. Knowing your triggers can help better manage your anxiety.

For more information about Mental Health Awareness Week visit the Mental Health Foundation.