By OLIVIA HAMPTON
Sheridan High School Student
Editor’s Note: The Sheridan Student Column is brought to readers by Sheridan High School’s 10th grade English class, taught by Abby Williams.
Anxiety can lead to stress, and stress can leave a negative impact on your life. It can drag you into a hole or a dark place where you do not want to be.
Anxiety can lead to depression and other things that can disrupt your life. Sometimes you need help but do not know how to get the help that you need.
Doing drugs and alcohol is not always the answer. You can find ways to help you cope. You can get together with people that can help you, or you can take matters into your own hands and find ways to help you cope with your anxiety.
One way that can help you cope is to talk to someone. You can talk to a person that you trust. Tell them about your day. What was good about your day? What was terrible about your day? Or you could talk about anything that makes you happy. If you do not feel comfortable talking, then you could write in a journal. It is proven that if you keep some sort of daily journal, it can benefit you. It can help with stress and anxiety, and it will help you to reach your goals and self-reflect.
However, talking to people or writing down your feelings may spike your anxiety. Do not worry! Other ways can help you to cope with your anxiety. You can meditate. Meditation can be a great way to clear your mind. Meditation could include listening to music, breathing, sitting in silence, doing yoga, getting a massage, or you could even color.
There are many ways to cope with anxiety and stress. You just have to figure out what is best for you.
Dealing with anxiety and stress can be a lot to handle. Start by taking big, deep breaths. Count to 10 and try to control your breathing. Close your eyes and visualize your breathing. If that does not help you, then you can try sitting in silence. Sometimes you can try to zone out and try to slow your thoughts. You could also try to calm your mind by listening to your favorite music.
Try limiting your caffeine intake and eating balanced meals. Make sure to get plenty of sleep and exercise daily. You can get involved in an activity that makes you happy. Laughing can always be a help when dealing with anxiety and stress.
One big thing that can help is to try and learn what causes your triggers. If you have tried everything you can and nothing is helping you, you can go to a doctor. You won’t get rid of your anxiety, but you can help reduce it and cope with your anxiety and stress.