5 Creative Ways To Deal With Anxiety (And Get Your Mind Off Of What's Bothering You)

Anxiety can be crippling, but there are some creative ways to deal with what's stressing you out.

By Mehruba Chowdhury — Written on Nov 07, 2018

Whether it’s a temporary or persistent condition, anxiety can be difficult to deal with. It’s, of course, much worse if it’s frequently experienced, as it can seriously interfere with our lives.

In those extreme cases, our lifestyles might get seriously limited due to anxiety. We start missing out in a lot of important life events, because we are so consumed by the harmful thoughts created in our very own minds.

Making it even worse is the fact that often the results feed into the cause of anxiety. For instance, we need sleep in order to reduce anxiety, but anxiety might prevent us from getting a good night’s sleep.

This just turns into a vicious cycle, making us feel like there’s no way out. Dealing with it, therefore, is absolutely necessary.

Many have learned to deal with anxiety efficiently enough to significantly reduce it.

In some cases, speaking to a professional might be the best idea, but if you want to deal with it by yourself before taking that route, you might want to get creative.

In fact, there are 5 unique ways to deal with anxiety that turn the process and the effort into a fun activity that can reduce stress and get your mind off the things that are weighing you down.

The tips that I am about to share with you might even turn into serious hobbies for you. So without further ado, let’s check out how to deal with anxiety in 5 ways you may not expect:

1. You can journal about your anxiety.

Anyone who has religiously kept a journal for some time would tell you how much of a positive difference it has made in their lives. Even friends who have journaled sporadically have told me how it has helped them organize their thoughts, enhance their memory, and improve their writing.

But one of the most amazing results of journaling for many has been reduced stress and anxiety.

There is almost something magical about writing your fears and worries down on paper. Suddenly you start realizing that you don’t have any control over the events you are so worried about, and you gradually stop getting anxious about them. Journaling also helps you to see what triggers you, revealing harmful thought patterns. This can be helpful as it makes you more aware of when those harmful thoughts start creeping in, so you can be better prepared for them. The moment you realize those anxious thoughts are just around the corner, you might try thinking more positive thoughts.

2. You can use art therapy to deal with the things that are stressing you out.

One of the best ways to deal with anxiety is to literally get creative! And art therapy seems to be many people’s favorite method of dealing with anxiety.

My favorite way is to just draw and play with colors. But there are some specific techniques that others follow, such as creating a collage of calmness and safety, or drawing or painting what anxiety looks like.

The idea is to calm our nerves and explore anxiety. Art therapy can help you achieve that by shifting your focus from whatever is causing the anxiety to the creation at hand.

3. Working with your hands can help you cope.

Cooking, gardening, knitting, and even cleaning can prove to be effective! When you really focus on the job at hand, you will find that you can’t really think of anything else.

I can personally vouch for cooking and cleaning as therapeutic activities. There’s something calming about just losing yourself in the process of creating something delicious.

If you are afraid of your cooking abilities, as I was once upon a time, fear not! Just go on Pinterest and pin some delectable, easy-to-make recipes. You never know; you might have untapped abilities!

As for the cleaning, it’s always nice to have a clean space. Don’t you agree?

4. Getting active can help take your mind off of your anxiety.

You probably saw this coming, but I am not going to ask you to exercise. You already know that it’s one of the most talked about and effective ways to deal with anxiety! Instead, I suggest that you try to get active in other ways, such as learning how to dance!

Dance movement therapy is real, and although many don’t talk about it, some people swear by it.

Dance can be a form of creative self-expression and an effective way to access a calm state of mind. This is because our bodies have an influence on our minds and vice versa. In fact, our movements during dance can help us worry less and focus more on our bodies.

But distraction isn’t the only way dance helps you to deal with anxiety. Dance also releases endorphins in your body, which helps reduce stress.

5. You can create a "safe space" in your home.

Our homes are our sanctuaries, and we must put some thought into the things with which we surround ourselves in this special space.

Go check out your bedroom. Does it look comfortable and peaceful? If it doesn’t, then it might be a good idea to start turning it into a place that calms you. Our surroundings can influence our moods and anxiety, so use soft peaceful colors like white and sky blue to decorate your house.

You don’t have to spend a lot! Just remove the clutter, keep your room organized, and maybe add a plant or two.

Just remember, anxiety can be difficult, but the way we deal with it doesn’t have to be.

Mehruba Chowdhury is a writer who covers astrology, pop culture and relationship topics.