How to Deal with Anxiety and Still Have Fun

When you owe credit card debt or other debt this year and you feel as though you'll never be able to afford to splurge on a weekend getaway or night out on the town again, consider that there are some affordable options for entertainment and simple yet effective ways to cope with your budgetary stress.  You can learn how to deal with anxiety by learning how to manage your stress with affordable time-out solutions that allow you to rejuvenate your spirit so you can better tackle your financial situation.

Don't Make a Difficult Situation Worse

Money woes are often difficult and usually not problems that work out overnight.  Often clearing up debt requires some long term solutions and patience.  It's too easy to take a little bit of extra money to spend on going out to dinner or treating yourself to something new when you've been cash-strapped for so long.  Everyone has their own way of saving or not saving.  Yet if you can find inexpensive or free alternatives to give yourself that break from stress, you'll find that you, at least, don't make your financial situation any worse off.  Learning how to deal with anxiety is perfectly free; you don't need vacations or shopping sprees.  Instead, you just need some alternative ideas that can help you blow off steam and regain a balanced perspective on life and your financial circumstances.

Connect with Others

According to Psychology Today, it's important to stay connected with others during bouts of anxiety.  When you're facing budgetary blues, it's easy to stay home and turn off the ringer.  However, it's far healthier for your mental state to talk.  Reach out to friends for advice or simply to blow off steam.  Talk to a few friends and plan a pot luck get-together.  This way you won't be burdened with the cost of a party with your friends, but you'll enjoy the benefits of being in good company.  Learning how to deal with anxiety means including others in your solutions too!  (psychologytoday.com/blog/hide-and-seek/201210/coping-anxiety)

Connect with Free Venues

It's important to get out of the house or apartment even when you're broke and feeling anxious. Fresh air and a change of scenery will go a long way to improving your outlook.  With more positivity you will be able to cope better with your stress and find solutions to work out of your financial crisis.  To that end, consider visiting museums on their free days.  These tend to be crowded times but you may find the company of other people refreshing even if they happen to be strangers.  Libraries offer free programs each month; you might attend one of their lectures, workshops, or entertainments whenever they're offered.  This is a great way to stay connected to your community and meet others.

Spend Time Outdoors

A walk can help you conquer a daily bout of anxiety.  Exercise has been proven to release enzymes that actually make you feel better.  Take a hike at a nearby by nature preserve or simply around your neighborhood each day.  If you live by water, head to the beach for some free recreation.  Sunshine and exercise are excellent for reducing one's stress levels.

Find an Inexpensive Hobby

Restoring old cars--that's an expensive hobby!  However, taking up gardening, for example, can be quite inexpensive particularly when you work from seeds.  Hobbies allow you to turn off your brain to the world in a healthy way.  You can temporarily forget about your stress and do something productive with your time.  Check out sites like Pinterest for great hobby and do-it-yourself ideas.  You can keep your costs down by learning how others have kept their expenses down too.

How to Deal with Anxiety about Money

Recognize that anxiety is a separate issue from your money woes.  Eventually you'll work out your finances, but you may continue to be burdened with anxiety about other issues.  It can become a habit.  Instead, learn to cope with your anxiety in healthful ways so that it doesn't consume your life and lead to other health issues.  Treat both problems--your anxiety and finances--separately.  Do what you can about your money situation, but then focus on relieving your stress.  You'll find that the relief is essential and will allow you to more effectively cope with other problems that arise.

Sam Jones the author of this article recommends to his readers looking for information on anxiety through financial problems, to visit  http://www.uswitch.com/debt-help/coping-with-debt/