How do you deal with your anxiety?

A psychologist (counselor) would be more helpful.

I write down my thoughts. I talk to people who are understanding. I slow down and take a moment to do something that removes me from the high stress situation – I take a walk.

I also see a counselor when things get bad, and I’m on anti-anxiety medication which helps enormously.

I often deal with my own (often irrational) anxieties by simply talking to a friend. The mere act of getting them out of my head and into spoken words often helps a lot.

I have developed a two-pronged approach to coping with anxiety that is quite liberating.

First, I listen to it in case the anxious feeling is really an inner reminder of something important (like I am headed out the door without my keys, or my cell phone, or my glasses.) If that is a valid message, I correct the omission first, then proceed.

Second, I acknowledge the inner feelings by quipping “yeah, I’m anxious. So?” as I continue to do whatever I was feeling anxious about. I see this approach as applying the title of a very helpful book on dealing with fear, Feel the Fear, And Do It Anyway to anxiety.)

It also feels like the more I respond to anxiety in this manner, the less frequently the feelings arise, and the weaker they are when they do appear.

As @Mariah mentions, go see a therapist. Figure out what type of anxiety you have and what may be the cause (if there is one). You could be dealing with anything from generalized anxiety to a phobia to ptsd to a panic disorder of some kind. The options for dealing with these will likely be different depending on the cause/condition.

But in the meantime (while waiting for your appointment), you can take some small steps to relax. Make sure you get enough exercise, sleep, and eat well. Practice some deep breathing techniques (available online), progressive muscle relaxation, and what @sahID mentions. If you take an interest in the symptoms of your anxiety rather than spend any energy wishing they were not there, it often takes the edge off them. Pay close attention and try to be really curious about how it feels to be anxious. It’s ok to be anxious, and it’s pretty damn interesting. When you allow yourself to be anxious, turn towards it with curiosity and without judgment, you may find that it loses much of its power.

Keep busy

More than a couple times doctors have commented that I seem overly nervous. Last year my family practice doctor told me that I have an anxiety problem and prescribed “Lorazepam” 0.5 mg as needed (commonly known as “ativan”). I told the doctor that I don’t need it and he said take it or leave it. I think that I can control any and all anxiety issues that I have on my own and I don’t need to be drugged up to feel good. Nevertheless in my medical records I will always be considered a non compliant patient with an “anxiety problem”. Nothing that I can do about that. My problem is not anxiety. My problem is crapy doctors.

Being on an SSRI has helped my chronic anxiety immensely.

I take a hot shower. and go to bed with a comfy comforter.

Medication and sleep.

This isn’t something that troubles me too much but I find going off on my bicycle into the countryside helps.

Prayer.

I do something to take my mind off the source of my anxiety. For instance, I might go and take some photos, go for a walk or do some other exercise, read a book or go to the cinema. I find photography particularly good for stress relief because I have to focus on what I’m doing, I’m using my creativity and I’m so engaged with the process of taking photos that I don’t continue to stress about other things. It’s hard to be stressed when you’re watching animals, or outside in the fresh air looking at insects or flowers or focusing on people doing interesting or even mundane things.

In addition, I do many of the things mentioned above. Acknowledge I am anxious, talk to a sympathetic and trustworthy person to debrief and sometimes to brainstorm things I can do to resolve whatever is causing my stress.

I update my dating profile over and over.

Try to deal with whatever is causing my anxiety even though it might make me more anxious in the short run.

Rest between the contractions. What that means is try to clear your mind of your worries when the worry is unproductive. Some worry can help you find solutions, be motivated to act, and prevent mistakes, but too much worry and worrying when it can’t help is pointless. Meditation and exercise can help give brief relief.

If the anxiety really feels out of control and acute, and there is no way to escape it for the present time, I think the bensos are a life saver literally.

Talk therapy is worth trying too. If the first one you try isn’t helpful, try another. Don’t waste time with someone not helping you. You should know within 5 sessions.

I answer Fluther questions and try to be useful on site keeps me busy. I’m hoping not to be anxious right now.

I see a psychologist, eat healthy and exercise. I also try to keep busy. I have good days and bad days. My psychologist diagnosed me with GAD which was no surprise. If anxiety gets really bad I’ll take a single Benadryl which calms me down for some reason. My doc never found anything on extensive tests either.