6 Things That Have Helped Me Live (Almost) Anxiety-Free
Here’s what has worked for me!
I’ve always been a very anxious person. My mind loves to overthink everything and analyze every detail because that’s the only way it feels ready and prepared for danger.
That’s how we operate when we have a dysregulated nervous system. We just can’t feel safe.
When I started having panic attacks a few years ago, I was desperate. I had no idea how to cope. It felt like my own body had betrayed me — I had no control over it, and I couldn’t catch my breath.
It has taken me many years, and many failed attempts, to finally find tools that relieve my anxiety. And the best part is: most of them are free!
1. Having a morning routine that makes me feel calm and grounded.
I’ve realized my mornings set the tone for the rest of the day.
If I do small things to take care of myself as soon as I wake up, I feel much more grounded throughout the day. But if I’m in a rush and don’t set boundaries, I’ll feel depleted by midday.
My ideal morning routine usually includes:
- Journaling;
- Meditation. Even if it’s just 5 minutes of deep breathing — it makes a huge difference.
- Eating a breakfast that makes me feel nourished (I used to skip breakfast, and it made my body feel very stressed).
If you’re thinking “but how do you have time to do all that?”, this routine only takes 30–45 minutes. If you want something, you make time for it.
2. Not being afraid to turn inward & get to the root cause of my anxiety.
This may sound obvious to you, but believe me, many people skip this part and try to treat the symptoms without getting to the roots of their issues. (I’m not judging — I did the exact same thing).
Here’s the most important thing to understand if you want to heal your anxiety: it doesn’t come out of nowhere.
Anxiety is a sign that your body is trying to tell you something. More often than not, there are three possible scenarios:
- Something in your current reality is making you feel anxious;
- Your current reality is not that stressful, however, your nervous system is still dysregulated due to past stressors (so you’re constantly anxious and hyper-vigilant)
- You do have current stressors and your nervous system was already dysregulated from past experiences.
In my case, my panic attacks happened because I had been suppressing my emotions and pretending I was fine for a very long time.
I didn’t want to acknowledge there was something in my life that needed to change (my relationship with my parents). It was too painful, so I kept ignoring their dysfunctional behavior to preserve our relationship. Eventually, my body forced me to acknowledge the truth.
So ask yourself, is your body trying to tell you something? (My Self-Healing Bundle can help you with this!)
3. Walking and spending time in nature.
My mood improves significantly when I go for a walk or spend time in nature! My stress levels decrease almost instantly, and it also helps me with processing my feelings and emotions.
When I was stuck at my parents' house in the middle of the pandemic, walking was the only thing that made me feel better.
“Spending time in nature is scientifically proven to reduce anxiety, depression, and stress hormone levels, which can be an important tool when working to overcome anxiety disorder and its symptoms (…) it’s a strategy that can produce significant benefits, and it’s relatively cost effective with no adverse side effects (as long as you keep yourself safe when in nature).”
Jim Folk in 20 – 30 Minutes In Nature Reduces Anxiety, Depression, and Stress
4. Not skipping meals, and making sure I’m giving my body all the nutrients it needs to thrive.
I used to skip meals every day. And when I did eat, it was mainly processed foods that didn’t take a lot of time to cook. I was either too busy to eat properly, or too tired to cook a proper meal.
I was stuck in freeze.
A few months ago, I realized these habits were damaging my body. Even if I was not experiencing emotional stress, I’d feel physically stressed and my body would resent me for not having healthy habits.
Now I make sure I eat whole foods (mostly plant-based) every 2 hours, and it has made a huge difference.
5. CBD oil.
As I’ve mentioned before, I’ve been taking some supplements that have helped me regulate my nervous system (Reishi, Lion’s Mane, Magnesium Glycinate).
But here’s the problem: these supplements only work in the long run. If you’re experiencing more anxiety than usual, having a panic attack, or struggling with insomnia, these supplements offer little to no help.
That’s why CBD oil was a game-changer for me. It takes the edge off and relieves my anxiety ins-tant-ly! I just have to put a few drops under my tongue and wait 10 minutes for it to kick in. If you want the exact products I’ve been using, check the link at the end of the article!
6. Yoga.
It’s been a challenge to make time for yoga, but when I do make it, I can literally feel the tension melting away from my body. I’m currently trying to incorporate it into my life, at least a couple of times a week.
If you’re new to yoga, highly recommend watching Yoga With Adrienne on YouTube. Her work is amazing and her classes are very easy. even if you’ve never done yoga before!
Living with anxiety can be very debilitating.
It took me a long time to find what works for me, and it took me even longer to incorporate these tools into my daily life.
It can take some time to find what works for you, but if you keep trying, you’ll eventually get there.
