5 Tips for Overcoming Daily Feelings of Anxiety

Do you find yourself experiencing daily feelings of anxiety? Are you unsure on what you can do about your feelings of anxiety? To help understand where your feelings of anxiety may stem from and what you can do to overcome your daily feelings of anxiety, I have interviewed psychotherapist Demarcus Davis, LPC/MHSP .

Tell me a little bit about yourself.
"I am a Masters level Professional Counselor with a background in Marriage and Family Therapy . I operate an independent private practice in Memphis, TN."

Where can daily feelings of anxiety stem from?
"The originating event(s) can happen as early as childhood and not manifest until later in life though the event and the symptoms may be tied more closely together. For example, a child moves around a lot because parents relocate often. They are teased at each new school just for being the new kid. Later in life, they start to avoid crowds because of anxiety. Unconsciously, they have associated unfamiliar crowds with negative experiences."

What type of impact can daily feelings of anxiety have on someone's overall life?
"Anxiety is generally associated with a lack of control but can be manifested in a wide variety of ways. Avoidance of certain situations can be as minimal as avoiding anxiety provoking situations to avoiding the outside world as in the extreme case of agoraphobia ."

What are some tips for overcoming daily feelings of anxiety?
"The mental, emotional, spiritual, physical, career and relationship dimensions in one's life should be address by the 5 following life adjustments:
1. Challenge your negative self-talk. Have you made negative assumptions or predictions about a situation that may not be accurate?

2. Engage in daily exercise. Exercise gives you increased energy for daily stress that you will encounter and generally makes you feel more positive.

3. Eat healthy. Food is the fuel of life that powers everything we do including how we deal with life's challenges.

4. Challenge yourself to try to gain some exposure to even a small part of an anxious situation. For instance, if crowds produce anxiety, invite a few friends over for a small party increasing the number of invites each time you host a gathering. Then attend small gatherings in public places. You don't have to talk everything at once.

5. Get enough rest, especially sleep. Insufficient sleep impacts every other function in life including mood and energy."

What type of professional help is available for someone that is having a difficult time overcoming daily feelings of anxiety?
"Debilitating or distressing anxiety symptoms should be addressed with professional help. Some approaches that I have found to be helpful include cognitive-behavioral therapy and EMDR . These therapy techniques are used to uncover and challenge dysfunctional patterns of thinking and/or processing information. For minor symptoms of anxiety it is best to address the issues holistically (as with any physical or mental health issue). Again, any treatment should include a holistic approach that addresses multiple areas of a person's life and well-being."

Thank you Demarcus for doing the interview on tips for overcoming daily feelings of anxiety. For more information on Demarcus Davis or his work you can check out his website at www.couples-n-families.com .

Recommended Readings:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/7869264/how_acupressure_can_help_relieve_anxiety.html?cat=5">How Acupressure Can Help Relieve Anxiety

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/6014342/anxiety_disorder_symptoms_and_treatment.html?cat=5">Anxiety Disorder: Symptoms & Treatment

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/5685300/how_to_eliminate_anxiety_in_your_life.html?cat=5">How to Eliminate Anxiety in Your Life