Start Healing: A Realistic Guide to Managing Anxiety and Taking Control of Your Life

(Visual image of long breathing)

Accept that you have anxiety. That was my first step and maybe it’s yours too. You're imperfect, and that’s perfectly okay. Millions of people silently experience what you’re going through. If you’re ready to start addressing your anxiety and finding real solutions, that alone is something to be proud of.

This Is Not Professional Advice, But It's From the Heart

My advice comes from personal experience, some learning (no degrees here), and a genuine desire to help others ease their mental struggles just as I’ve been doing for myself.

Step 1: Accept the Struggle, Embrace the Journey

Anxiety sucks. But it becomes manageable when you start experimenting with activities that help you ground yourself. This takes effort, an open mind, and the understanding that you will struggle at times.

Try breathing exercises you can do them anywhere.
Go on walks or bike rides.
Try yoga or meditation.

But most importantly stay open. Your personal anxiety remedy is out there. It could be journaling, knitting, tea-making, or even baton twirling. It doesn’t matter what it is as long as it brings you into the present moment. Pay attention to how it makes you feel.

Step 2: Create a Daily Routine (Yes, Starting with Sleep!)

One of the best things I ever did for my anxiety was fixing my sleep. Seriously, if you're saying stuff like “I need the TV to sleep,” you’re not ready for real change. Sleep directly impacts mental well-being.

Start small:
Go to bed and wake up at consistent times.
Eliminate screens before bed.
Create a calming bedtime routine.
This becomes the foundation you build the rest of your mental health on.

Step 3: Journal Every Morning (Yes, Really!)

I start every day with:
A slow walk outside
Some deep breathing
A journaling session where I empty my thoughts and align with my values

Journaling is powerful. It helps you understand your emotions, track your goals, and bring clarity. It’s also helped me get into Stoicism, which drastically improved how I handle emotions and uncertainty.

Step 4: Be Present Feel Everything

Feel your feet on the ground.
Feel the couch under you.
Listen to each word of every song.

This kind of mindful awareness takes practice and patience, but it’s the real medicine for anxiety. You’re not just surviving anymore. You’re starting to live with intention.

Step 5: Identify Your Core Values

Go online and search for a list of core values.
Which ones resonate with you?
Why?
Ask yourself why again.

When your daily life doesn’t align with your values, anxiety shows up. You might be living for ego, approval, or habit not authenticity. This awareness alone can be healing.

Step 6: Ask When Anxiety Hits

Start noticing when you feel most anxious:
Is it in the morning?
During certain tasks?
Around specific people?

This kind of self-awareness isn’t fun but it’s a game-changer. You can’t change what you don’t observe.

Step 7: Reflect and Acknowledge Your Wins

You’re doing something powerful. You’re addressing your anxiety. You’re seeking guidance. That’s not nothing it’s everything.

No one made you take this step. It was YOU.
You’ve already taken back control, whether you realize it or not.

 Step 8: Try New Things That Nourish You

Keep your routine.
Keep journaling.
Stay committed to growth.

Try new hobbies, revisit old passions, connect with others, or simply spend time in nature. Build a life that brings you peace and joy, even in small ways.

You're On the Right Path

This process won’t be easy. It will take effort, time, patience, and love. You’ll fail, feel lost, and want to give up. But you’re not alone and you’re not stuck.

Start small. Stay consistent. Keep going.

 “You’re no longer trying to just survive. You’re learning how to truly live.”