4 anxiety-relieving tips that will have you breathing easier

Managing anxiety and mental health can also help you take care of your physical health. Use these tips to minimize anxiety's effects on your well-being.

Exercise is one of the best ways to alleviate anxiety. Not only is it good for your body in general, it also helps you focus on the present moment and not let your mind wander with anxious thoughts.

Biking, walking, running, swimming or other forms of exercise helps to increase the brain's production of the BDNF hormone, which is often depleted when you're feeling anxious or depressed.

If you experience anxiety about specific events or issues, try examining your fear by exaggerating it to a dramatic extent. This can help to make your fear seem silly instead of something logical to be worried about.

If you're worried about money, imagine yourself spending all the money you have, losing your house and car, having your family abandon you and living in a cardboard box on the street. It's easy to worry about something in the present, but playing out the whole scenario in your head often helps you to realize that the worst thing that could happen is probably quite unlikely.

If you're feeling especially anxious, don't just sit around and think about it. That will only make it worse. Instead, find ways of distracting yourself. Do a puzzle or turn on a funny TV show. Call a friend to have dinner or just chat on the phone.

Try not to talk about what is worrying you but instead train your mind to avoid negative or anxious thoughts and get out of your own head.

Counting your breaths is actually a very calming and relaxing way to cope with anxiety. Just inhale deeply and count one, then exhale deeply. Repeat and count two and so on. It will help quiet your mind and get you focused on your body in order to control any panic or fears you might be experiencing.

Meditating is also helpful because it brings you back to the present moment instead of letting your mind spiral out into anxious thoughts.