How can I better manage anxiety when it feels overwhelming?

Here are some practices that I have used over the decades.
You say that you have struggled with it for awhile. Do you have knowledge of a beginning point/event/etc.
Everyone has anxiety and it fluctuates. My greatest help has come from thinking of it in this way......instead of trying to shut it down or deny it, I have considered that it may have a purpose. Try inviting it in as you might with a new person, be curious,ask questions, write to yourself as though you were the physical and emotional things that come up. I have found when I am using this kind of exploratory writing can sometimes be more authentic and revealing when using my non dominant hand.
Daily mindfulness meditation. Walking meditation....any kind of practice that is regular and goalless.
What is the self talk that we all do that is almost unconscious. I have surprised myself so often when I discover what I have been saying to myself and especially about myself

Negative thinking has a huge impact. Have you looked at the list of cognitive distortions? What in your life do you say yes to and what do you say no to? Look up personal boundaries. Walking deep breathing meditation helps me. Me in particular is the media blasting away terrible traumas and catastrophic thinking 24/7. Not sure if ths applies to you. I like diy home decor. I have 2 dogs who are my documented ESAs. It helps me too to just cry. I am a trauma survivor so I have had trauma informed treatment.

I have found that when I'm anxious, it helps to write down a list of the things that are bothering me.

For one thing, writing them down helps me rank and prioritize my worries. That in itself helps a lot.

The long-term benefit for me is that after time passes, I re-examine the lists and realize that most of my anxieties were pointless.

Cumulatively, over time I have come to realize that I can get wrapped around the axle over trivialities.

I frequently recite some of the most powerful words in the English language:
"This too shall pass."

My counselor has recommended not pushing the anxiety away, allowing it to “be.” Don’t struggle against it, invite it to sit with you. It can’t hurt you. It will pass.

My key for anxiety over many years has been to get a good workout. Choose your mode - swimming, running, yoga, tai chi, weights, dumbbells, calisthenics. whatever. Be sure to include the three main components of any workout in my humble opinion, resistance (push ups, crunches, working with weights for example), aerobic (swimming, running, exercise bike to increase your heart &resp rate), and stretching (for flexibility & to help prevent falls & minimize their impact). Many times I've gone into a workout in a horrible mood, depressed, anxious, all of that. After an hour's workout, I find myself asking, "what was your problem"! Try it. Good luck!

I agree; for me, the solution is exercise, exercise, exercise. And it can be in any form. I especially like productive exercise, like yard work, litter pickup, even housecleaning chores, a strenuous walk or bicycle ride, walking the dog. Best wishes to all.

njoys, I am reminded of a wonderful aunt of mine, the family matriarch for decades. When a family member got "depressed" - she would show up and mount a housecleaning effort, working side by side with the depressed person. Great exercise and productive. She used to say, the remedy for depression is cleaning!

I am also feeling overwhelmed by both grief and concern over financial circumstances.
As a recent widow, I don't feel I was provided for in a meaningful way and don't know what to say to myself about it all. I know "it is what it is" and I can't change that but want to look at it in a different way so I don't feel so............... angry, disappointed, whatever... KR

Lemon Balm helps to relieve anxiety and has additional benefits too. It’s a supplement.