Top Tips for Living with Health Anxiety From Having a Brain Aneurysm

April is Stress Awareness Month, and nothing compounds stress more than the constant worry that comes with having an aneurysm or supporting a loved one affected by one.

We're put together Top Tips for Anxiety Around Living With A Long Term Health Condition from our webinar last year, with psychotherapist Kym Winter, Founder and Clinical Director of Rareminds, the first specialist, non-profit, counselling and psychotherapy service in the UK for people impacted by rare disease, where we talked about coping strategies and shared resources and information to help you live as well as possible with your rare condition.

1. Break tasks into smaller steps rather than overwhelming yourself by thinking of everything at once

   
   

2. Acknowledge your emotional workload and don’t underestimate the psychological effort involved

   
   

3. Pace yourself and limit additional stressors to allow for more rest and recovery

   
   

4. Create mental reminders, such as "I only need to get through the scan," to help reduce pressure and anxiety by focusing on one step at a time

   
   

5. Practice mindfulness and grounding techniques such as focusing on your breath or engaging in a simple, enjoyable activity to help shift your mindset

   
   

6. Reward yourself to recognize your effort and provide emotional relief, reinforcing positive behaviour and self-care

   
   

7. Alleviate anxiety associated with making hard choices buy approaching decisions at your own pace: It's okay to walk up to a difficult decision, take a moment to examine it, and then step back if you're not ready to commit

   
   

8. Remember that all feelings, including anxiety and fear, are temporary and will pass. Acknowledging this can help you navigate through tough emotions

   
   

9. Recognise that it’s okay to take your time with decisions and to be patient with yourself as you navigate through difficult times

   
   

10. Finally and most importantly - reach out for support: Don't hesitate to talk to your healthcare provider or a mental health professional if you're struggling. They can help you find resources or strategies to cope with anxiety and stress

You can watch our webinar, and our other support webinars here: https://www.hbasupport.org/information#webinars

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