Secrets to Coping with Anxiety

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There are many reasons for people to be anxious these days – general threats to safety, for instance, or the fear of losing one's job. Obviously, not all these reasons are something that can easily be changed. A little anxiety is good, though. For example, your being anxious before a job interview makes you prepare a bit more carefully, and think about what to say.

Thing is, anxiety can take on a life of its own, triggering your “fight or flee” response (or “flight or flight”, however you want to call it). It isn't just once, though – the response is triggered constantly throughout the day, and you feel as though trouble's around every corner. This chronic worrying and tension is what's known as Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

How do you deal with this intrusive kind of anxiety, and keep it from wreaking havoc on your day-to-day life?

1. Understand your worrying. Thinking about what-if situations actually won't get you anywhere. The trigger may be external, but it's your inner dialogue that encourages your worry.  Practice taking a different tack whenever that happens.

For example, instead of letting yourself come up with worst-case scenarios and then fretting over them, ask yourself why you'd think of that? Chances are, that was an illogical notion, and is seriously unlikely to happen.

2. Form connections. There is strength in numbers, and nowhere is this more true than in dealing with anxiety; the more connected you are with others; the less vulnerable you feel. One problem, though, is that GAD can lead to relationship problems because of what you need from said relationships.

Essentially, you just need a few good friends whom you can count on to be your support system, to chat with you, and generally be there for you.

3. Practice relaxation. Deep breathing and other relaxation exercises help you feel less tense. Yoga is a good way to work off tension; mindfulness training is another. You have several options, really. It's impossible to be relaxed and anxious at the same time, so just find something that works for you to stay relaxed more often than you are tense.

Beating Depression: Little Ways to Brighten Your Mood

Depression isn't the most cheery of conditions – literally. There are days you won't feel up to taking care of responsibilities, talking with people, being out and about. It's normal to feel down sometimes, of course. With depression, though, the feelings of sadness are very persistent, and they can interfere with day-to-day living.

Nevertheless, there's good news; there are tips on how to overcome depression – perhaps slowly, but surely. Here are a few of them.

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1. Get a good night's sleep. Getting enough sleep and maintaining a regular sleep-wake schedule can help people with depression. Adequate rest can help regulate certain chemicals, including the ones that affect your mood. This means you'll be less prone to, say, mood swings.

2. Set goals. They don't have to be big goals at first. As hinted earlier, depression can affect your everyday living, and you might not feel up to doing chores and the like. So you can start with small goals, like watering the garden everyday, or doing the dishes. Once you start feeling better, your daily goals can be more challenging.

3. Exercise. You don't have to run a marathon or hit the gym for more than an hour in order to feel the benefits. Even just taking a walk every day can do wonders for your mood, thanks to the release of feel-good endorphins every time you work out.

4. Let the light in. Open drapes or curtains when you wake up so that your room – and your mood! - becomes brighter. You can also try heading outside soon after you wake up and feel more alert, since being outdoors can boost your mood, too.

5. Cuddle a pet. Petting a dog for several minutes helps to release the feel-good hormones and lowers the stress hormone cortisol. You get the same mood boost from playing with a kitty – or any furry friend, really.

6. Find something new to do. Depression can make you feel as if you're stuck in a rut, so looking for a new activity, or picking an old hobby back up can help fight that feeling.

7. Look on the bright side. No, really. Challenging yourself to think positively, since a positive thought can boost your mood, even a little. For many people, it boils down to happiness is a choice. It just happens to be a bigger or tougher one when you're depressed.