4 Preventive Measures That Can Help With Anxiety And Panic
There is no determined set of causes that can lead to anxiety or an anxiety disorder. It is a mental condition and can be triggered by an activity that makes a patient anxious. Triggers are different for every person who is suffering from anxiety. While there are a few activities, instances, and causes that can be common triggers, there are still no definitive causing factors. This is one of the major reasons that contribute to why the prevention of anxiety is different for every patient. Most doctors have categorized prevention methods into groups that are based on triggers and behavioral changes in the patient.
Early intervention
A number of studies have shown that an early diagnosis and intervention of anxiety can help in tackling the condition. In most cases of a successful recovery from an anxiety disorder, the treatment or prevention techniques began at an early stage. A study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology stated that preschool children who had their parents intervene at an early stage had recovered from anxiety and panic disorders.
Stress reduction
One of the biggest and foremost prevention measures for a person dealing with anxiety is to reduce the amount of stress in their life. Stress is a direct trigger for most people with anxiety. It is not only limited to anxiety, but it can also cause panic in the patient. The primary preventive measure would be to stay away from stress; however, if that is not possible, you can find ways to relieve the stress and relax. Exercise is one of the best ways to relieve stress. You can include it in your daily routine by going for walks, practicing yoga, or accommodating a gym or dance routine in your week. Along with exercise, a vacation can help in dealing with anxiety as well.
Eating healthy
It might not strike as a problem or a trigger, but indulging in an unhealthy diet can be tough for coping with your anxiety. Following a proper diet is beneficial for physical as well as mental health. It does not mean that you give up on all the junk you are fond of. The diet includes properly spaced-out meals, heavy breakfasts, and light dinners. Try to include more fruits in your diet along with your regular meals. It is important to remember that the food you eat also has an impact on the functioning of your brain. Along with a healthy diet, you must also keep away from unhealthy substances that can harm your health. Tobacco products and alcohol might be termed as stress relievers, but they actually do the exact opposite. Caffeine, alcohol, and narcotic substances are some of the most common food products that can trigger anxiety or panic. If you are addicted to either one of these unhealthy substances and wish to quit, you must consult your doctor or look for a support group that can help you quit.
Maintain a journal
In most cases, when you are having an anxiety or a panic attack, you might not be surrounded by people. It is important that you write about how you are feeling. You can try to maintain a journal to keep tab about how you feel throughout the day and mark times when you are low. If shared with your doctor, they will be able to draw a behavioral pattern from your notes helping them as well as you. Another important reason to maintain a journal is self-analysis, nobody one knows you better than you. It is also seen that writing about problems induces a feeling of sharing the problems, which makes it easier for people to deal with them. If you are surrounded by people and are having a panic or anxiety attack but you can’t share it with them, then the journal is ideal for you to deal with the situation. For example, if you are in a meeting at work you can write about your feelings and deal with them as you might not be able to talk to your colleagues in the middle of a meeting.