Step#1. Enter the streaming flow
Flow is a state in which you allow your mind and body to merge, dissolving into each other. If we do something daily, we can find this condition when we are involved in our activities. There are many occupations that can help you enter the streaming state, such as running, meditating, doing art. As soon as you find your own flow, you will feel that time seems to have arrested, and all worries disappear. First you need to get some practice, you will come closer to this state every time.
Step#2. “Will it matter within a certain period of time?”
“When you feel anxious about some aspect of your life, it’s easy to lose your opportunities. Ask yourself, “Will it matter in a week? A month later? In a year?” Your state right now may not correspond to how significant the issue will turn out to be after a certain time. These questions will help you look at the situation from a different point of view in order to realize how to react to it.
Step#3. Get back to nature
Nature helps to restore the natural balance of our body. Stress, anxiety, global problems, city life, constant activity in social networks – all this causes tension, and rest from such a load, even if it is just time spent in nature, is very preferable for our physical and mental state.
Step#4. Control your breathing
Quite often, when we are too focused on our thoughts, stress makes us lose control, anxiety and even panic, a good way to interrupt this is to focus on breathing. Make deep inhalation, trying to pay attention to how you breathe, and remain calm so that anxiety does not throw you off balance, triggering a panic attack. Some triggers appear before an attack. They are rapid breathing, heaviness in the chest, tightness in the shoulders and throughout the body. Focus on what feels wrong and ask yourself, “How do I get out of this?”
Step#5. Give a name to your critic side
Most people believe that we only have one inner voice. In fact, there are at least two such voices, contradicting each other, and the next time one of them says in an internal monologue that you are not good enough. Remember – this “critic” is not the only one who has the right to vote. Give him a name and character, and the next time you hear something self-deprecating from it, you will understand that the “critic” is not the only thought and you can challenge him.
Step#6. Make more moving actions
Make stretching, strength exercises, cardio or even brisk walking will have a visiable effect on your mental health. Every day we have to search for food and then come back. Therefore, if we sit all day, spending all our energy on the mental work, we seem to “disconnect” from the body. Taking regular breaks to exercise will have a significant impact on your brain.
Step#7. Chat with people
Many people are reluctant to talk to family and friends about psychological problems. This will be a tricky but important step, because then you can say what you think – as opposed to the usual “everything is fine” when in fact “everything sucks.” Believe it or not, the eternal positive has its negative consequences. For example, if you are grieving for someone close, and your motto is to think positively, forget about everything and move on, there will be a need inside you to give out grief. There are many people who, even a few years after the tragedy, have not lived through this sorrow and still cannot come to their senses. It is very important to allow yourself to experience the full range of emotions. If sometimes you allow yourself to be sad, the sadness goes away faster.
Step#8. Help others
Sometimes we dwell on our problems and do not see what is happening around, and then the opportunity to help other people allows us to look at the situation from the other side. It also promotes the production of endorphins, making us feel better. You can do charity work or simply write to someone and see if you need help. What is very easy for ourselves can be very difficult for other people, but you won’t know if you don’t ask. Helping others will allow you to feel connected in the depths of your soul.