25 WAYS TO CALM YOUR NERVES


1. Take a 10-minute walk. This will help your body to relax and let off 
energy that may be leading to your anxiety.
2. Listen to some music or a  relaxation CD. This will help distract you from
thinking about your current  stressors.
3. Stop obsessive thoughts. Keep busy as much as possible outside  your home
is even better to avoid getting bored.
4. Stop talking about your  past. If you must, seek counseling for
professional help. Soon after try to move  on with your life and leave your past behind.
5. Breathe slowly. This will  help you to relieve some of the tension you are
experiencing within  minutes.
6. Count to ten. This technique can help to you to maintain focused  and
avoid saying or engaging into appropriate behaviors you would later  regret.
7. Use positive affirmations. Talking to yourself is always a useful 
self-care tool one can depend on anytime you want to avoid a nervous break down  or
losing control over your feelings.
8. Be gentle with yourself. Avoid  putting yourself down or being negative,
as this will only stress you out  more.
9. Sleep or take a nap. Rest is important when it comes to taking care  of one
’s body. When you get tired you become irritable and stressed, which may 
lead to health problems.
10. Talk to a friend or family. Sharing one’s  stressors with people you can
trust helps to relieve tension and may lead to you  finding a solution.
11. Avoid caffeine. Caffeine is a stimulant and may lead  to increased
anxiety.
12. Get a body massage-This is good for muscle tension.  Your muscles may be
tensed which leads to more stress.
13. Time management-  Prioritize and use your time wisely. Do what you can
with the time you have in  the order of importance and continue when you can.
14. Avoid being in a rush.  It is a bad habit that can lead one to have
anxiety problems in the future. It  is also an unnecessary stressor one can avoid.
15. Stop working so hard. You  should always try to balance out your life
when it comes to your family and  work. Too much work can lead to serious health
problems and not enough personal  time can lead to relationship problems and
severe emotional problems including  anxiety and depression.
16. Ask for assistance. It can be helpful to receive  support and/or get
advice from family and friends during a difficult and  stressful time.
17. Do something fun. Fun is always good for stress and life  in general.
18. Live today and plan for tomorrow. Take it one day at a time  to avoid
overloading yourself with too many worries and /or planning that can  wait for
another day.
19. Write in a journal. Share what’s on your mind and  the feelings you may
have to help get them off your chest.
20. Laugh or smile  more. This is a relaxing thing to do and helps one to
maintain a good mood and  positive attitude. Watch a funny show, movie or go to
and comedy club near  you.
21. Choose your battles wisely. Learn to ignore or let go of the small 
stuff. (e.g. losing money, items, forgetting things, problematic people etc.) If 
it is not worth your time and can be ignored, do it and do not look  back.
22.Clean your house. Cleaning and organization can be very good for  stress
and comfort. It will also help you to keep busy and keep up with your  home.
23. Be optimistic. Stop being negative, as this is very stressful thing  to
do to oneself all day, everyday.
24. Stop trying to be perfect. Nothing  ever is nor will it be. This only
provides false expectations, which lead to one  becoming overly stressed over
certain situations.
25. Stop trying to always  be in control. Learn to relax and do what you can.
Being able to accept what one  can and cannot control is not easy but also
helpful when dealing with everyday  stressors. This is also an example of one
choosing their battles.
Written by:  Tamara A. Monell, LMHC Date: 11-06-07