1. Take a fidget toy with you
(I never leave the house for an exposure task without my squishies <3)
2. Wear clothes that are comfortable and make you feel confident
(Being as comfortable physically and mentally can help prevent anxiety from getting worse)
(For me personally I have a weekly planner where I assign myself a task everyday such as ‘get on a train’ or ‘go for a walk by myself’ having set tasks everyday helps keep me accountable and also allows me to mentally prepare myself)
4. Practice affirmations e.g: “I can get through this”
(It can be hard to control the physical reaction to exposure therapy regardless of whether or not you try to control the mental reaction unfortunately but every little bit counts)
5. Get a good night sleep the night beforehand
(This one may be hard for a lot of people especially if you’re like me and struggle with PTSD but trying to get a good night sleep the night before can help prevent further exhaustion which exacerbates anxiety)
6. Fuel your body before and after
(Again another one that may be hard for a lot of people including the author of this post but fueling your body when it’s under stress is so important)
(For me this includes my psychologist, GP, parents and boyfriend)
8. And finally be kind to yourself!
(The fact that you are fighting your mind every time you step outside your house and still go out regardless makes you pretty badass if I say so myself 😊)