Mental Health: 5 ways to help manage anxiety

This week is Mental Health Awareness week which encourages global mental health education. It also helps to raise awareness of mental health issues and combat social stigma by addressing issues that affect many people every day.

In a role that demands you constantly care for others, it is important to ensure you are also looking after yourself and caring for your own needs.

Tita Turner

Tita Turner, owner of Emerson Nails & Nail Perfect international expert educator, offers up five tips on coping with anxiety:

1. Don’t feel guilty for taking time off; if you need to take a day off to stay in bed all day – do it! I recently picked up photography and vlogging as a hobby. Editing photographs and videos really eases my anxiety.
2. Don’t compare your anxiety to others. Anxiety is such a broad issue.
3. Don’t over-do things. You can push yourself to do things you never thought possible, but be kind to yourself. Write down your goals and work towards them at your own pace. Take the time you need because only you know what’s right for you.
4. Don’t apologise for not telling your friends every detail about your life if you don’t want to, or you forget to. Also, never be ashamed to open up about how you feel. Sometimes others want to help, but don’t know you’re struggling.
5. Don’t let anxiety define you. I don’t let anxiety become my excuse for not pushing my own boundaries. I have overcome hurdles in would have never thought possible five years ago. I am not ashamed of my anxiety, but I do not wear it as a badge of honour.

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For help and information from Mind, visit www.mind.org.uk