Anxiety is a part of life. We all get agitated and stressed sometimes. It’s a product of our over-scheduled, busy lives and circumstances that we cannot control. Feeling anxious or stressed is a normal response to difficult situations. Anxiety disorders are more serious as compared to temporary stresses and require professional help. But when it comes to easing the anxiety that is the usual reaction to stress, there are several methods to calm your thoughts.
Get into Your Body
When you are overwhelmed by anxiety, it’s natural to feel like you are losing control. Mindfulness and awareness are excellent tools to help you manage your emotions and regain some of that control. Activities like meditation and yoga allow you to focus on self-soothing and provide natural anxiety relief. Grounding exercises are also an effective technique to calm anxious thoughts and reconnect your body and mind.
Physical activity is very beneficial. Exercise is scientifically proven to help manage various health issues like anxiety, panic attacks, and depression. Experts recommend performing at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercises, 5 times a week to burn stress hormones in your body and improve your mood. This could include running, dancing, cycling, walking, hiking, biking, or anything else you like to do that gets you moving.
Find Your Flow
When your anxiety is increasing, it can quickly overwhelm your thoughts. As a result, you cannot think of anything else. To deal with this situation, you should find a healthy distraction so you can get away from anxious thoughts. The goal here is to achieve a state of flow that equates to more creativity, productivity, and happiness when practiced regularly. Engage in activities that allow you to fully immerse yourself in the present. The good news is, it is possible to experience the state of flow while performing any activity.
Some recommended activities include playing a board game or sport, talking with friends, pursuing a creative hobby, playing with a pet, reading or drawing, listening to music, journaling, and praying to take your mind off things.
Get Outside
Being in nature can help reduce stress and anxiety. Being amongst the flora and fauna of the woods is beneficial for both your body and mind. It is an effective way to calm anxiety. Even a few minutes of walking or sitting in a natural space helps improve mood, focus, heart rate, and blood pressure. For the best results, add some activity, e.g. walking. According to studies, spending at least 2 hours a week in nature leads to significant levels of positive well-being and improved health.
While severe and chronic anxiety treatment typically requires the help of a medical professional, many everyday anxiety symptoms can be alleviated via natural remedies. While the anxiety symptoms are unpleasant, keep in mind that they are not permanent. Try applying the above-listed strategies to your everyday routine to help ease anxiety and improve your overall well-being.
Photos by: Pablo Heimplatz, Jared Rice, rocketmann team, Monica Turlui