5 Things to do in Charlotte, NC in the Summer to Calm Anxiety
Continuing Therapy in the Summer is Essential for Keeping Your Mental Wellbeing in Check
Summertime is always thought of to be a time where you can kickback and relax with no worries - Hakuna Matata, right?!
Taking care of your mental health is important no matter the season and it is especially true during the summer months. I often talk with my clients about how therapy can be the most effective and important when we think we need it the least.
If you notice that your stress and anxiety seems to be lower in the spring and summer this is a great time to stay in therapy to help charge your battery for some of the other times in the year when you notice your anxiety and stress levels kick up notch. This is especially true for those that experience seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
I am an anxiety therapist in Wilmington, NC. I specialize in counseling for women providing anxiety treatment. Most often my clients are experiencing things such as perfectionism, imposter syndrome, and burnout.
I offer online anxiety therapy for high achieving women living in North Carolina and Maryland.
Keep reading to check out 4 ways to manage your anxiety and 5 things you can do during the summer in Charlotte, NC.
Ready to start therapy with me? Click the button below to schedule your free 15 minute consultation.
4 Tips to help manage anxiety symptoms
Tip #1 to Manage Anxiety: Get Your Body Moving for Anxiety Relief
Dance, play around with your kids or partner, take up a sport, or you can have a really good home cleaning session. Anxiety can often times feel like a buzz or spark going through your system so it can be really helpful to get your body moving in some kind of way.
Tip #2 to Manage Anxiety: Get Outside
Being outside and connecting with your environment is a great natural anxiety relief. Being in nature and outdoors provides opportunities to ground yourself and physically connect with the earth. I talk with my anxiety clients a lot about grounding and connecting. Often times anxious worries and nervousness leaves my clients feeling disconnected.
Tip #3 to Manage Anxiety: Spend time with Family and Friends
Connecting with others can be a really great way to help manage anxiety. For those that experience social anxiety this may not be the easiest of tasks but it still has the opportunity to be beneficial. To connect with others it doesn’t require a large group but it can even be with one person, a trusted friend.
Tip #4 to Manage Anxiety: Have Fun
It’s a simple idea but can often be difficult to achieve for those that experience anxiety. Often what I hear my clients tell me is “there isn’t enough time,” “too many things to do,” “I can’t relax,” “how do you have fun,” or “I don’t know what I like to do.” These are all normal responses for women that have a lot on their plate. Therapy is a great way to work through some of this and discover how to have fun. Having fun can help reduce anxiety by getting your mind and body engaged in something enjoyable and less time in your worries.
Interested in learning more about anxiety and anxiety therapy? Check out these helpful blogs:
Understanding Your Anxiety and How to Treat it
What to Expect When You Start Therapy for Anxiety
5 Tips for Choosing the Best Anxiety Therapist in Wilmington, NC
Keep reading to check out 5 things to do in Charlotte, NC this summer where you can put these 4 tips into action!
5 Things to do in Charlotte, NC to Help Manage Anxiety
Charlotte, North Carolina is located in Mecklenburg County. For all you Netflix Bridgerton fans out there, some of these names might sound familiar. Charlotte is the largest city located in North Carolina and offers a variety of very cool experiences, attractions, and all around fun things to do.
Check out some things you can do in Charlotte, NC that can help reduce your anxiety:
#1: Visit Parks in Charlotte, NC
Charlotte, NC has so many parks and areas to explore. I highly recommend packing a picnic or level up your game and put together a charcuterie board. Grab some friends and spend some time checking these parks out. You can go solo, lay out a blanket, and tune in to your favorite podcast too.
You can also take a bike and get some riding in or do a few yoga sunrise salutations on a nice grassy area letting your feet feel the earth below you.
Here are a few parks to check out in Charlotte, NC:
Freedom Park
First Ward Park
Fourth Ward Park
Romare Bearden Park
Wing Haven
Also check out the numerous Greenway Trails in Charlotte, NC:
Little Sugar Creek Greenway
Briar Creek Greenway
Four Mille Creek Greenway
#2: Explore Restaurants and Cafes in Charlotte, NC
Check out the city life and take advantage of the awesome restaurants. Cafes can be a good chill spot too. So much time over the last year was spent working from home so if you are still doing the WFH bit switch up your environment or go on your day off and meet up with friend.
#3: Take a Trip to Lake Norman in Charlotte, NC
Lake Norman is a 30 minute drive North outside of Charlotte, NC. Here you can explore and hop on some bike trails as it is part of the Carolina Thread Trail. You can also get some time on the water by renting a boat, sailing, kayaking, and even doing some fishing.
For more information on Lake Norman, click here.
#4: Whitewater Rafting in Charlotte, NC
Charlotte, NC also has another very cool experience that needs to go on our list.
The U.S. National Whitewater Center.
Here you can do all sorts of outdoor activities and it doesn’t have to be only whitewater rafting either but WHOA on an activity to challenge anxiety! Not to worry though, if you aren’t feeling up to whitewater rafting there are other activities available too.
The U.S. National Whitewater Center offers the following activities:
Kayaking
Stand-Up Paddleboarding (SUP)
Ropes Course
Ziplines
Climbing
Biking
If you are interested in learning more about U.S. National Whitewater Center, click here.
#5: Take Me Out to the Ballgame - The Charlotte Knights
America’s favorite pastime, Baseball. The Charlotte Knights are a AAA affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. Grab some friends or family and enjoy some fun with the Charlotte skyline in the background. Check out the fireworks, giveaways, and enjoyment of being in good company during a night at the ballpark.
As a misplaced Baltimore Orioles fan living in Wilmington, NC, I miss the sights, smells, and overall enjoyment of an evening at Camden Yards.
There are so many options around Charlotte, NC that you can do to get outside, move your body, have some fun, and also can help relieve anxiety. Have you tried any of the ideas above? What are some of your favorite things to do in Charlotte, NC?
Continue reading to learn more about the services I offer at Calm Waters Counseling.
Starting Online Anxiety Therapy in North Carolina
These tips to manage anxiety is only part of the work to be done to address your anxiety. At Calm Waters Counseling, I provide anxiety treatment using acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and mindfulness techniques.
I specialize in counseling for women providing anxiety treatment. I specialize in areas of perfectionism, imposter syndrome, and burnout.
Online Therapy in North Carolina
To begin online therapy at Calm Waters Counseling follow the steps listed below.
Click the button to schedule your free 15 minute consultation
Complete the brief questionnaire sent to your email
Meet with your new online therapist in North Carolina
Start living your life with less anxiety
If you have thought about trying online therapy but not sure if it would be a good fit for you, check out these other helpful blog posts about online therapy.
Is Online Therapy Right for Me?
Benefits of Using Online Therapy for Anxiety Relief
Does Online Therapy Actually Work?
For more information on getting started and answers to other questions you may have, click the buttons below.
Written by: Laura Rippeon, LCSW, LCSW-C
Updated 3/12/23