Things That Can Make Anxiety Worse

Mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression are at an all-time high in today’s society, and whilst some of the things that cause and trigger them are known, sometimes for people living with these conditions it can feel like a ticking time bomb for when they’re going to feel bad again because they often don’t know what things in their lifestyle or environment are influencing their anxiety or making it worse, so in this post, we’re going to share with you some of the things that can actually make anxiety worse so that you can hopefully start eliminating them.


Stress:
It’s well known that stress is one of the main causes of anxiety, so it stands to reason that prolonged exposure to stress could make anxiety worse. Although a little stress is actually healthy and is there to help us stay safe and avoid danger, over exposure to stress like what we deal with today is most certainly not healthy and should be limited. So, making sure you’re doing things like taking time for self-care and looking after yourself properly is one of the best ways to reduce stress and limit the levels of anxiety you may be feeling.


Alcohol & Drugs:
Whilst dealing with anxiety, many people find themselves turning to things like alcohol and even drugs because these substances can help quiet the mind and drown out the thoughts that seem to become unbearable when anxiety kicks in, but the problem is, once these things wear off, not only are you left with a hangover or come down, but you’re going to feel the full force of that anxiety because it hasn’t really gone anywhere, it’s just been suppressed. The problem this then often causes is that it turns into a toxic cycle of using more substances to keep the anxiety away, and this leads to addiction. To learn more about the effects of alcohol and drugs on anxiety and find healthy alternatives to coping, then you there are plenty of resources online at places like https://www.amethystrecovery.org/crack/detox-withdrawal-symptoms-timeline-centers/.


Junk Food:
Although it can certainly be tempting to curl up in bed with a greasy pizza or some takeout Chinese food when in the midst of anxiety, it’s really not going to have the best outcome and will actually lead to you feeling worse - not just mentally, but also physically. There are many foods shown to reduce the symptoms of anxiety, so taking a look for some of the ones that you would enjoy is going to be a good bet for you.


Not Enough Sleep:
Getting plenty of sleep will definitely help lower your overall stress levels and help with anxiety, so if you don’t want to make it worse, then make sure you’re getting lots of rested sleep.


Negative Information:
Nowadays, everything being fed to us through the media, and sometimes even friends and family who constantly complain and gossip is just so negative. This is never a good thing, but especially if you’re dealing with anxiety, then the last thing you should be watching is the news, for example.