Anxiety is part of life – but sometimes we feel too anxious or we feel anxious for too long a time. “It is important to reduce feelings of nervousness and fear – and to feel good about yourself,” says Glenda Morrissey, a psychologist and owner of Morrissey Rehabilitation and Treatment Counselling, which has offices in Halifax, Truro and Amherst.

There are steps we all need to take to do this, she notes. These include:

• eating right
• exercising regularly
• getting a good night’s sleep
• butting out

In addition, says Glenda, there are other steps we can take to reduce anxiety. Such as:

Reduce your commitments. We often get anxious when there is too much to do and too little time to do it. One suggestion is to list everything you need to do, then cut the list in half. That makes the day more manageable and your task list more reasonable.

Understand what anxiety is. The more you know about anxiety – and what makes you anxious – the less uncertain you will feel and the more you will be able to identify solutions that work for you.

Make changes. Understanding why you are anxious will help you understand how to reduce your anxiety. This often means changing a particular behaviour or pattern.

Rely on your support system. Whether it’s family, friends, or professionals, support is essential in dealing effectively with anxiety.

Laugh out loud. Laughter really is the best medicine. It’s hard to feel anxious and tense when you are enjoying yourself. A funny movie, an evening with jovial friends, or a good book can all help to tickle your funny bone.

Learn to say “no.” Sometimes our anxiety is linked to our inability to speak our mind. It can be difficult to speak up, and to speak out. This type of assertive behaviour requires us to feel comfortable saying no, telling people what we need, and being honest. That can be very uncomfortable, at least at first. However, over time, you’ll feel better when you’re saying what needs to be said.

Take control. We feel anxious when life feels out of control. So take some control over your life. This can be as simple as cleaning out your overflowing cupboards or as hard as developing a budget you can stick to.

Unwind with music. Music really can calm our nerves, refuel our tired bodies, and help us see the joy in life. Heavy metal may not be the best choice to unwind to, but how about classical or country? Jazz or pop? Opera or Broadway?

Anxiety is part of life – but sometimes we feel too anxious or we feel anxious for too long a time. “It is important to reduce feelings of nervousness and fear – and to feel good about yourself,” says Glenda Morrissey, a psychologist and owner of Morrissey Rehabilitation and Treatment Counselling, which has offices in Halifax, Truro and Amherst.

There are steps we all need to take to do this, she notes. These include:

• eating right
• exercising regularly
• getting a good night’s sleep
• butting out

In addition, says Glenda, there are other steps we can take to reduce anxiety. Such as:

Reduce your commitments. We often get anxious when there is too much to do and too little time to do it. One suggestion is to list everything you need to do, then cut the list in half. That makes the day more manageable and your task list more reasonable.

Understand what anxiety is. The more you know about anxiety – and what makes you anxious – the less uncertain you will feel and the more you will be able to identify solutions that work for you.

Make changes. Understanding why you are anxious will help you understand how to reduce your anxiety. This often means changing a particular behaviour or pattern.

Rely on your support system. Whether it’s family, friends, or professionals, support is essential in dealing effectively with anxiety.

Laugh out loud. Laughter really is the best medicine. It’s hard to feel anxious and tense when you are enjoying yourself. A funny movie, an evening with jovial friends, or a good book can all help to tickle your funny bone.

Learn to say “no.” Sometimes our anxiety is linked to our inability to speak our mind. It can be difficult to speak up, and to speak out. This type of assertive behaviour requires us to feel comfortable saying no, telling people what we need, and being honest. That can be very uncomfortable, at least at first. However, over time, you’ll feel better when you’re saying what needs to be said.

Take control. We feel anxious when life feels out of control. So take some control over your life. This can be as simple as cleaning out your overflowing cupboards or as hard as developing a budget you can stick to.

Unwind with music. Music really can calm our nerves, refuel our tired bodies, and help us see the joy in life. Heavy metal may not be the best choice to unwind to, but how about classical or country? Jazz or pop? Opera or Broadway?