The owner of RAVVE Medical Billing and an agile coach with RAVVE Technology and Northwestern Medicine, Chicago’s Raven S. Cashaw is a member of both Scrum Alliance and Agile Alliance. Outside the professional arena, Raven S. Cashaw supports multiple nonprofit organizations including the Anxiety & Depression Association of America.
For more than three decades, the nonprofit Anxiety & Depression Association of America (ADAA) has been furthering the prevention and treatment of generalized anxiety disorder, among other common mental disorders. It shares a number of tips to manage anxiety and stress through the ADAA website.
When acute feelings of anxiety or stress occur, the ADAA suggests taking several slow and deep breaths. It may also help to stop what you’re doing and count slowly to 10 or 20, repeating several times if necessary. It also recommends longer periods of quiet self-care. Whether you meditate or simply listen to music, frequent “timeouts” are essential.
General lifestyle tips include eating regular and balanced meals while limiting intake of caffeine and alcohol, which can exacerbate anxiety and precipitate panic attacks. Sufficient quality sleep and moderate daily exercise are also tremendously important.
