30+ Interventions For Anxiety Relief
Getting an idea of how intense the anxiety is feeling will be a good indicator for which types of strategies might be most helpful for you. For instance, if anxiety feels lower and more manageable, perhaps a meditation would be beneficial. If anxiety feels more intense, movement, grounding and more body-based strategies would likely help more. Ultimately, you get to be the judge of what is most helpful for you for the various levels of anxiety you experience.
Avoidance Coping & The Anxiety Cycle
While avoidance coping seems like a good option for fast anxiety relief, the problem with this strategy is that the relief we experience from avoidance coping is not only short lived, but this practice is actively leading to increased anxiety in the future.
ACT - A Gentler Approach To Anxiety
Acceptance & Commitment Therapy offers a gentle, compassionate and mindful approach to both our internal and external experiences. It empowers us to align with our values and to cultivate self-compassion as we respond to our inner world (ie. our thoughts, emotions, memories, etc.).
As we practice Acceptance & Commitment Therapy, whether it be for anxiety, depression, stress-management, self-esteem, etc., we are choosing to turn towards our experiences with curiosity and acceptance, rather than constantly trying to change them.
Where Does Anxiety Come From?
When the brain perceives the body to be in danger, it sends out both physical signals and cognitive signals in an attempt to save you from whatever danger it believes you to be in. These signals can look like ‘what if…’ thoughts, rapid heart rate, sweating, shallow breathing, etc.. These signals are strong and uncomfortable…for a good reason. Your brain is doing everything in its power to get you away from the threat. If these signals were pleasant, we probably wouldn’t be as apt to get into action, right?