How to stop being nervous

Why do we feel nervous? Is there any way to stop the nervousness? Some people may feel stressed about a big event coming up or maybe feel shy or uneasy about speaking in front of others. These feelings can also be caused by fear, stress, depression, and anxiety disorders.
Either way, as you know it’s not that easy to reduce the overall level of anxiety before an event where your fears are concerned. The trick is to develop a few habits which will help you deal with your nerves better in future events and situations.

This post contains some ideas on how to reduce those nerves—whether they are the type of near-panic-inducing anxiety that gets you up at night or the worrisome fears that have prevented you from taking an important step in your life

What does it mean to feel nervous?

If you look at the symptoms of anxiety, nervousness is one of the most common—and it’s a natural reaction to stressors in our lives. When we feel anxious, our bodies are trying to help us cope with stressful situations. From a survival standpoint, it makes sense! Our brains have evolved and have developed multiple reactions to stressful situations that may cause us harm—flight or fight reactions.

When we feel anxious, our bodies release adrenaline, cortisol, and other hormones and neurotransmitters throughout our bodies to aid us in escaping danger. This is why we may feel a “rush” of energy when we feel nervous. In addition, the rational part of our brain that allows us to think becomes clouded by an overwhelming feeling of oncoming doom. When this occurs, it can cause trouble with your decision-making as well as your ability to relax and recharge. That’s because part of the way you experience nervousness is that your fight or flight response has been activated. When this happens, your body goes into a hyper-vigilant state, which ties up mental resources. It’s supposed to protect us from danger, but often in our modern world, it causes problems instead.

Why do we feel nervous?

Nerves can be caused by a whole bunch of different things and knowing what the root cause is can help you go about dealing with that cause.

Situations:
Do you have a physical reaction when in certain situations that makes you feel more anxious? For example, maybe you always get the jitters before speaking in public or even before having to talk on the phone. In general, you may feel nervous when you are unsure of your abilities. All of these situations may cause a physical reaction in your body that can lead to more anxiety.

Nutrition:
Are you eating healthy or not? If you’re thinking about changing your diet, remember that it can take up to a month for your body to feel the effects of these changes.

Ambient noise:
Are you in a noisy environment? Whether it’s in the office, at home, or any place else, noise can affect our ability to relax and focus on what is around us. It may also cause us to feel more anxious because of the distraction factor.

How a nervous feeling can help

People who have anxiety might feel their nerves are not always a bad thing. Nerves can help you to succeed and exceed expectations. For others, there are ways to reduce feelings of being anxious. People need to sort out what natures of feeling anxious and figure out how to manage it as it can affect their daily life.

You might be nervous when you’re in different situations than what you used to be in. You can be anxious about having to give a speech or meet someone new. These are normal nerves and at times having them can help. If you’re tensed most of the time, it’s not a sign of any problem with your health, but rather of how you think about it and how to deal with it.

So what if you’re nervous about something like giving a speech? You might feel that your nerves are doing you no good, but your anxiety can be useful. If you go ahead and do it, the reason for the nerves will soon be gone, as there is no end to the scenarios in which people can have to perform.

Instead of letting those nerves get in the way of doing things and feeling anxious all the time, think positively. Take the opportunity to do things that make you feel better.

It’s not so much of a bad thing when you are nervous. If you give it too much thought, it can be very frustrating and cause your nerves to get worse as time goes on. Some people find that they have different levels of anxiety and are better off than others who always seem to be anxious, or those who say they are nervous all the time.

If you feel tense about being in certain situations, take a few minutes to try and remember some good things that have happened because of it. They may be hard to find at first, but you can use your memory as a tool. You’ll begin to realize that there are upsides and benefits to the way that you feel most of the time.

When your nerves get out of hand

So, you’ve tried the above tips, and you’re still nervous. This can happen. And that’s ok! It’s important to be gentle with yourself. You can try these suggestions if your nerves are getting worse:

Consult a health professional

Nerves can be a symptom of larger mental issues. Sometimes, it may just be caused by stress. But if you aren’t sleeping well, feeling anxious all the time, or have a general loss of focus, it may be time for you to talk to a professional.

Meditate

There are many ways to meditate, but all of them have the same purpose: to help us disengage from those thoughts that are causing our nerves and live in the present moment. You can practice it alone or with your partner or friends. Try different things from sitting in a chair to walking, to using guided meditation apps.

You can also try deep breathing techniques to help calm your nervousness and help you find peace in your thoughts.

Think about the fact that you are overcoming a fear

When we feel anxious, it’s because we’re dealing with a fear or are afraid of something. Instead of being annoyed at yourself for being nervous, try focusing on the fact that you are overcoming a fear. In other words, instead of telling yourself “I’m so anxious!” try to change it to “I’m proud of myself for facing this fear” or “I know I can do this with some practice.”

Remember that nerves are natural

Nerves are a natural reaction to things that may be going on in our lives. They evolved to protect us from harm, not annoy us and make us feel anxious. That’s why you shouldn’t beat yourself up when you feel nervous. Just observe it and see if there is anything you can do to calm down.

What is the link between stress and feeling nervous?

Stress is a big factor in how we feel and whether or not we can handle it. Stress can affect our nervous system, so it can result in nerves. The emotions that we feel from stress are often the same ones that cause us to feel nervous.

When you’re stressed out, you’re likely experiencing high levels of this hormone called cortisol. This hormone is just like adrenaline, but it’s only released when there is a threat of danger or tension. The problem is that if you have high levels of cortisol in your system for too long, you can develop a whole host of negative health problems.

Tension and anxiety are often related due to the roles both play in our nervous systems. When we experience stress, it activates our fight-or-flight response. This response allows us to respond fast and intuitively during dangerous situations that may occur.

How to stop being nervous

Now you know the reasons you may be feeling nervous, and how tension can cause it as well. Let’s talk about what you can do about it.

Try these steps to stop feeling anxious.

Learn how to relax

It’s important in your daily life to learn how to relax. This means taking time out of your day for yourself so you can face the world more confidently. You deserve this time to re-energize and relax, but you can only do it if you make it a priority. That being said, take some time every day to relax.

Here are some ways to relax:

• Meditate
• Go for a walk
• Yoga
• Go swimming or take a hot bath.

Get organized

Being organized is another great way to feel more confident and relaxed. Being disorganized can make you feel worried about everything. Make a schedule for yourself. This means setting aside time for things you like, but also things that you need to get done to maintain optimal health.

Don’t feel worried or anxious about whether or not you have set aside enough time for the things that you need to do during the week. If you know where your time is going and what it’s being used for, then you can relax.

Get enough sleep

The right amount of sleep is essential to feeling happy, healthy, and confident. It allows your brain to function well. Staying awake for too long can make you feel anxious and stressed.

Without enough sleep, we’ll feel more often tired and have brain fog. This affects our attention, concentration, decision-making, and problem-solving skills. It also affects our mood, causing us to feel tired and lethargic as well.

Avoid caffeine

We all enjoy a nice cup of coffee in the morning. But too much caffeine can cause anxiety because it releases the hormone adrenaline in our system.

Caffeine affects the brain in several negative ways. It’s linked to depression and anxiety because it affects the levels of neurotransmitters. That’s why it’s so important to drink coffee in moderation and to stop drinking caffeinated beverages when you’re trying to cut back on caffeine intake.

Practical tips to deal with nervousness

Get your mind off of it

Almost anything can distract us from our thoughts, including exercise. This is why exercising is a great way to relieve tension. It helps us stay in the moment and get out of the nervousness that we’re feeling.

So, if you feel any nerves coming on (this can happen at any time throughout your day), go for a walk or do some stretches or yoga to calm yourself down. Work out until you feel less anxious and more relaxed.

Listen to positive, upbeat music

Listening to music that makes us feel good and is positive can help us feel relaxed and confident the way we want to be. It’s a great way to break up the day and separate the different feelings you’re having.

Meditation

If you feel nervous before a big event or date, meditation can help calm your nerves. Meditation can help because it’s a relaxation technique. It helps us to relax and stay present in the moment.

Get busy…stay busy

We don’t want to tense too much over little things that don’t require our immediate attention. Sometimes, we need to get out of the habit of being anxious and worrying about things that have already happened or could happen in the future.

Instead, we need to focus on what we can do right now to make our lives better and put our energy toward important things. Try to stay focused on the things that truly matter. This will help you feel confident and less worried. You’ll be able to see what really needs your attention and what’s just causing unnecessary anxiety.

FAQ

References

1. Healthline.com – Nervousness: How You Can Deal with It… – Found on 10-10-2022
   Link to page on healthline.com
2. Wikihow.com – How to Avoid Being Nervous – Found on 10-10-2022
   Link to page on wikihow.com
3. Calmclinic.com – How to Stop Being Nervous For Good – Found on 10-10-2022
   Link to page on calmclinic.com