Anxiety is the most common mental health condition in Australia. On average, one in four people – one in three women and one in five men – will experience anxiety at some stage in their life. In a 12-month period, over two million Australians experience anxiety.

For every 13 people at least one person will have anxiety.

Since Covid has entered our lives, I have noticed most of my clients are presenting with anxiety or are feeling anxious.

The brain’s response to anxiety is to put the body on high alert ready for action with a fight or flight response. To counter the fight or flight response we need to slow our body and mind down.

Here some helpful strategies to slowing things down:

Restlessness – go for a walk or other physical activity, talk to someone, read a book, play with a pet

Trouble sleeping – create a restful environment, no screens for at least an hour before going to bed, no caffeine for a few hours before, read a book, think about a happy time from your past, think about a fun thing you about to do or plan a fun event in your head, listen to music

Increased heart rate – do something relaxing, have a shower, deep breathing

Shortness of breath – control your breathing, focus on something outside or on the other side of the room, splash cool water on your face

Will these strategies stop you feeling anxious no. But they will help you to stop your anxiety from becoming stronger and overwhelming you.

Sometimes even if you make these strategies part of your daily routine you may notice that you still struggle. If these strategies do not make thing better for you then I would encourage you to seek support from a professional such as a counsellor and doctor.

If you have experienced anxiety and have a strategy that helps you please let me know, so I can share that with my clients.