Lately, I’ve been feeling anxious, not just for me but also for those around me. I’m not sure if it’s related to planetary alignments or not, but it’s been noticeable among many.

I usually manage anxiety well. I’ve learned coping strategies and skills that I rely on. However, at times, I feel helpless. This annoys me because I feel like I’ve trained to help others cope with anxiety. But when it comes to me, I feel like I can’t.

Anxiety can be manageable when approached strategically. When you break down the reasons behind your anxiety, you realize that it’s a combination of smaller factors that build up to a larger issue. I often use the metaphor of a snowball; one small snowball gets covered by another, and so on, until you have a large snowball rolling towards you. But when you chip away at the layers by focusing on what you can control in the present and what you can control in the future, it significantly reduces anxiety. This helps you create a list of immediate and future task-related priorities or what’s most important to you and what’s not.

What are some coping strategies that reduce your stress? What strategy hasn’t been beneficial for you?

Some articles/books that I’ve read and think taking a look at would be helpful:

Shri, R. (2010). Anxiety: causes and management. The Journal of Behavioral Science, 5(1), 100-118.

Muhammad Khir, S., Wan Mohd Yunus, W. M. A., Mahmud, N., Wang, R., Panatik, S. A., Mohd Sukor, M. S., & Nordin, N. A. (2024). Efficacy of progressive muscle relaxation in adults for stress, anxiety, and depression: a systematic review. Psychology research and behavior management, 345-365.

Amen, M. (2020). Conquer Worry and Anxiety: The Secret to Mastering Your Mind. United States: Tyndale House Publishers.  **(Although the book ties religious text into some concepts, the book helps create coping strategies)