Viral Reddit Thread Shares How to Deal With Anxiety: Best Coping Strategies Revealed

Most of us have faced anxiety at one time or another. A recent viral Reddit thread, proving we’re not alone, asked, ‘How do you deal with anxiety?’ and the responses offered a variety of effective anxiety coping techniques.

What is anxiety? Understanding and managing anxiety disorders

It may seem like an obvious question, but anxiety is more nuanced than many realize. Occasional anxiety that arises from specific circumstances is a normal part of life, but many people also live with more severe and persistent anxiety regularly. Here are a few of the more common manifestations:

• Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) involves a persistent feeling of anxiety or dread, making anxiety management a crucial part of daily life for those affected.
• Panic disorder, which includes frequent and unexpected periods of intense fear, discomfort, or a sense of losing control, even in the absence of obvious danger or a trigger.
• Social anxiety disorder, which manifests as an intense, persistent fear of being watched and judged by others.
• Phobia-related anxiety disorders, where the person experiences an intense fear or aversion to specific objects or situations. The fear people with phobias feel typically exceeds the actual danger caused by the trigger.
• Separation anxiety, often thought of as something only children and pets deal with, can be experienced by anyone at any age. People with separation anxiety disorder fear being away from the people they are close to and often worry that something bad might happen to their loved ones while they are not together.

All this is to say that anxiety is a category of various complex mental health hurdles. Nobody is immune to anxiety, and it can look different for each individual.

Reddit’s anxiety tips share best ways to manage symptoms

Reddit users offered a wide range of anxiety coping strategies, sharing personal techniques developed either independently or with the help of mental health professionals.

Exercise for anxiety relief

One of the most common suggestions was physical activity, which one user even referred to as “the best mental health life hack ever.”

Indeed, aerobic exercises, including jogging, swimming, cycling, walking, dancing, and even gardening, have been proven to reduce anxiety and depression.

Someone also poignantly pointed out that engaging in a walk, for example, is a way to channel your energy into something you can control instead of focusing on feelings of lost control.

Meditation for anxiety relief

Meditation was a particularly popular suggestion for mind-body reprieve. One user commented that their therapist taught them meditation over the last few years, and called the practice “immensely helpful.”

“Basically, you find a comfortable place to sit, feet grounded, hands loose, and take deep breaths while slowly letting muscles relax,” they explained. “Then, you close your eyes and say a mantra, out loud if you want, but generally I do it very purposefully in my head. Sometimes I start out loud, then get quiet as I settle in.”

The mantra is just one word, they noted, and serves as a somewhat meaningless focal point for the exercise. For 15 minutes, the goal is to continue to breathe, check in on muscles, and consciously relax them, being mindful of any tension that tries to arise. Then, they begin “think-speaking” the mantra at a comfortable cadence.

Journaling for anxiety relief

“Journaling has been a game-changer for me,” read another popular comment. “It’s like having a low-budget therapist who’s available 24/7. I write down everything that’s bugging me, and somehow seeing it on paper makes it seem more manageable. Plus, doodling in the margins is a nice bonus stress-reliever.”

Some people expressed a dilemma in which they were interested in writing out their feelings but felt apprehensive about expressing themselves in a permanent manner. However, others offered solutions such as password-protected journals and apps for more privacy and security.

Hot or cold water for anxiety relief

Some Reddit users suggested taking showers at high or low temperatures.

“Warm and cold can give a good amount of feedback to the body,” one person commented. “Warmth is soothing, calms things down, and cold is more shocking and lets your brain reset itself.”

Thought reframing

It may be one of the more challenging feats, but many people suggested their personal versions of shifting perspective in a moment of anxiety and getting a grasp on their mindset.

“Diverting my thoughts into positive ones and always reminding myself that my family is always there for me, so there’s nothing to worry about!” said one user.

“My therapist always tells me to reword ‘what if’ to ‘even if,’” offered another. “Meaning even if that thing happens, I will be just fine.”

The bottom line: Anxiety is a complex mental health challenge, but there are many effective anxiety relief methods available, including techniques shared in this viral Reddit thread.