Are You Anxious and Overwhelmed? Try Asking AI for Help

We asked the new open source Artificial Intelligence program — ChatGPT — for help with severe anxiety. This is what it said.

Our question: Can you give me some tips for severe anxiety?

AI’s answer:

Certainly! Here are some tips that may help with severe anxiety:

Seek professional help: A mental health professional can help you identify the cause of your anxiety and develop a treatment plan.
Practice relaxation techniques: Techniques such as deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, and mindfulness meditation can help reduce anxiety.
Exercise regularly: Physical activity can help reduce stress and improve your mood.
Get enough sleep: Chronic sleep deprivation can exacerbate anxiety. Aim for 7-9 hours of sleep per night.
Eat a healthy diet: A healthy diet can help improve your mood and reduce anxiety.
Avoid alcohol and caffeine: These substances can increase anxiety.
Practice good self-care: Take time to relax and do activities that you enjoy, such as hobbies or spending time with loved ones.
Challenge negative thoughts: Negative thoughts can contribute to anxiety. Try to reframe negative thoughts in a more positive light.
Limit your exposure to news and social media: Constant exposure to the news and social media can be overwhelming and contribute to anxiety. Take breaks from screens and limit your consumption of news and social media.
Seek support: Talk to a trusted friend or family member about your anxiety. It can be helpful to have someone to confide in and who can support you.

It’s important to remember that it’s okay to ask for help and that it’s possible to manage and reduce anxiety with the right treatment and self-care.

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Ok, so some of those tips are common knowledge, although always good to re-iterate. But we wanted more information about “progressive muscle relaxation”. What is that?

So we asked AI to explain.

AI’s answer to “Please explain progressive muscle relaxation”.

Progressive muscle relaxation is a relaxation technique that involves tensing and relaxing different muscle groups in the body. The goal of this technique is to become more aware of the tension in your body and to learn how to relax your muscles.

Here’s how you can practice progressive muscle relaxation:

Find a comfortable place to sit or lie down.
Start by tensing and relaxing the muscles in your feet. Tense the muscles for about 5-10 seconds, then relax for about 30 seconds.
Move up to your calves and repeat the process.
Continue tensing and relaxing the muscles in each part of your body, working your way up from your feet to the top of your head. Some common muscle groups to focus on include your thighs, stomach, arms, hands, chest, neck, and face.
Take deep breaths as you relax each muscle group.
When you reach the top of your head, take a few minutes to relax and focus on your breathing.

It may take some time to learn how to relax each muscle group effectively, so be patient with yourself. With practice, you should be able to use progressive muscle relaxation to reduce muscle tension and improve your overall sense of relaxation.

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Interesting! That seemed specific and grounded — and not something we knew. Sounds like it is worth trying!

A word of warning however — we do NOT think Artificial Intelligence is the solution to all problems. It is a tool, one that may make your life a little easier. But like anything, it can also be misused or steer people in the wrong direction.

Out goal with articles like this is to help point out potential benefits and shortcomings. Always seek professional help as needed for dealing with your health and mental health.

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At The Good Men Project, we know that the world is changing faster than most people can keep up with that change. Part of our mission is to help people successfully navigate this ever changing world.

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