Even with a good sense of self, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. It is one of the most common anxiety symptoms, but if allowed to continue, it can weaken your coping abilities. It is important to acknowledge that you deal with anxiety.

Having autism means anxiety for me is standard. Removing anxiety from your life is not always possible, depending on what you deal with, but it is something that can be managed with the right tools.

The following should help:

Stand back and take yourself out of the situation that is making you anxious. Try to find a distraction or something else to do. Go for a walk and take in new observations. Walking is good for controlling our breathing and heart rate.

Controlled (deep breathing) is important for anyone who deals with anxiety. Feeling anxious, if not controlled, can bring on other symptoms like hyperventilation, which can occur during an anxiety attack.

Anyone can practice and become aware of how they breathe. When we are able to make ourselves aware of the breathing process, we influence how deeply we inhale, adapting it so that we can maximise its benefits.

Take between 8 and 12 breaths per minutes. (Source: https://www.bestherbalhealth.com) Controlled breathing helps regulate stress, which can affect the nervous system. Controlled breathing can help reduce anxiety attacks.

Exercise is also a good tool to help reduce anxiety.

Ilana Estelle is a mental health and wellbeing advocate who combines educational insight with her personal experience of living with physical, mental, and emotional disabilities. She holds diplomas in Counselling, Diet and Nutrition, Nutritional Therapy, Psychotherapy and Counselling, and Stress Management. Through her writing, Ilana supports others in navigating their emotional, mental, and physical health challenges. In addition to writing for The CP Diary, her work has appeared in healthy lifestyle magazines. Ilana is also the author of three books: Cerebral Palsy: A Story – Finding the Calm After the Storm, Spirituality, Healing and Me, and Survival: The Covid Years – Time for Change.

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