How do I cope better with my anxiety?

Hi Vee,

Thank you for your question.  It would be interesting to know how the anxiety impacts your day to day life?   

Often, in the first instance, it can be helpful to know how anxiety impacts us physically, psychologically (thoughts) and behaviorally. Sometimes understanding how anxiety affects us can help lessen the impact, perhaps making it not as overwhelming.  If you engaged in therapy this might be done by providing you with a handout to read and then exploring your experiences with anxiety.   

Also, reflective journaling may be beneficial. There is much research regarding the benefits of journaling for emotional wellbeing.  With this there is a further tool that could be utilized to help pinpoint some of the emotions underneath the anxiety. This can be done through therapy. 

Do you distract yourself and try to avoid anxiety or are you able to sit with it?  This can be extremely difficult and uncomfortable to do.  Sometimes we can ask ourselves what is anxiety trying to tell us?  What does it feel like?  Where does it come from? Do we know what is triggering it?  This can be done through reflective journaling.  Thinking about,  "How did I feel today?"  "Where in my body did I feel it?" "How did I interact with people today?"

There are many techniques that may be utilized to help with anxiety eg , guided breathing techniques, grounding exercises, guided mindfulness exercises, having an anchoring tool, self soothing exercises, having a "soothing"/"first aid" box etc.

What are your self care practices?  Remember self-care isn't just about doing things it is also how we speak to ourselves, so do you speak kindly to yourself?   Do you accept your Self?  Are you able to be your genuine, true Self with people or do you find you wear a "mask"? Perhaps exploring aspects of your Self in therapy.

However, whilst all of these tools may help it really is about getting to the root cause of the anxiety which can be explored through therapy.

With regard to relationship with mum this is perhaps best explored in therapy,  and not just your present relationship but from childhood.  Reflecting and exploring the "resentment" you mention. 

Hope this is of some help.