In this blog Katherine from Grace Foundation shares her top tips with you

Anxiety is that feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease about something about which we are uncertain of the outcome. When we don’t know what is going to happen, it is easy to start to feel scared. There are times in life when we feel nervous for good reason such as before an exam or if you are about to jump out of a plane! This heightened feeling can sharpen our senses and help make us ready for action. But when you start to forget what made you feel concerned in the first place then we can easily get overloaded.

It is normal to have anxious feelings at time of uncertainty and sudden change. What isn’t normal is when feeling unsettled prevents you from doing everyday activities. If this starts to happen you may need to seek help from someone you trust.

In this week’s video we will discover more strategies for dealing with anxiety as outlined in the rest of this Blog below.

Below are five keys for combating fear and worry especially in a time of crisis. These will only make a real difference if you find someone to talk through what is going on for you.

 1) Accept

When it is a strange and difficult time, it is okay to give yourself permission to grieve and feel sad about how different life looks and that there are things that you can’t do any more. Grieving doesn’t mean staying in a place of sadness but dealing with your emotions until you finally come to a place of acceptance.

2) Engage

Look for ways to have face to face time with others. Try using free video apps if you can’t meet in person. Seeing someone’s face and hearing their voice always leads to a greater sense of connection than just texting to chat or posting images online.

3) Move

Try doing exercise or help with practical stuff around the house. Exercise gets rid of adrenaline and causes the release of endorphins which is a happy hormone! Helping and engaging with something practical for someone else can take your mind off anxious thoughts and leave you with a sense of achievement.

4) Pause

Take 10-15 minutes a day just being quiet and becoming aware of how your body is feeling. This could look practising mindfulness, having some quiet time or taking deep breaths. Some people pray as a way of connecting with themselves and their spirituality. Have an attitude of gratitude! Taking time out means being thankful for the good things that you do still have in your life.vvvv

5) Learn

1. Keeping your mind active through studying and learning is good for your mental health. As well as your studies for school, you can learn about topics for fun as well! Have you always wanted to learn sign language or how to bake a cake? Temporary distraction is a great technique provided it doesn’t become about long term covering up what needs to be dealt with on the inside.