Everyday ways to Loosen Anxiety’s Grip Naturally
If there’s a silver lining to the fact that anxiety is such a common mental health issue, it’s that there are many different treatment options and management techniques. Most people know some of the standard practices when it comes to dealing with anxiety. Things like medication and therapy are often the best solutions for anxious, worried thoughts. However, there are other things you can do to loosen anxiety’s grip naturally every day. While therapy is often still necessary, especially to discover the root cause of your anxiety, being able to manage your symptoms with small natural habits each day can make a big difference.
Some of the best ways to naturally ease anxiety’s effects?
Stay Physically Active
Exercise is one of the best ways to boost your mental health and reduce anxiety all at once. You don’t need to run a marathon or spend hours in the gym each day. Exercising for as little as 30 minutes can do wonders for your mental health. Exercising boosts serotonin levels and boosts dopamine in the brain. These chemicals are responsible for those happy feelings, often known as a runner’s high. Not only will exercise boost your mood, but it will help to relax you, as well, making it easier to manage your anxious thoughts without letting them overwhelm you.
Prioritize Sleep
Anxiety and a lack of sleep often go hand-in-hand. Unfortunately, the more anxious you are, the harder it can be to get a good night’s rest. The less sleep you get, the more anxious you can become. So, what can you do to combat those issues? Start by developing healthier sleep habits. Go to bed around the same time each night and wake up at the same time each day. Create the ideal sleeping environment in your bedroom, and use that room only for sleeping, not for watching television, working, etc. A good rule of thumb is to stop using digital devices for at least an hour before bed and give yourself time to wind down and relax, letting your mind and body know it’s time to sleep.
Practice Mindfulness and Meditation
Anxiety often stems from uncertainty. If you find yourself asking “what if?” more often than not, you know how easy it is to be scared of the possible answers your imagination can come up with. Mindfulness and meditation can help with those racing thoughts.
Mindfulness is simply the practice of remaining in the present. Close your eyes and focus on your surroundings and how you feel. What do you hear? What do you smell? How does your body feel at that very moment? Take a few slow, deep breaths as you try to clear your mind and focus solely on that moment and nothing else. Thoughts will still try to come in, but think of them as clouds you can’t hold onto and let them float away.
Meditation is similar to mindfulness. It uses deep breathing techniques to clear your mind and focus your thoughts. Both practices have relaxing properties that can fight anxiety over and over again.
Seeking Professional Help
Anxiety is treatable, but it rarely goes away on its own. Seeking out the help of a therapist is a natural way to ease anxiety and one of the best things you can do to bolster your mental health. A therapist can help you uncover the underlying cause(s) of your worries and fear and guide you through even more techniques and skills you can use to ease your symptoms naturally.
If you’re dealing with anxiety and you’ve been struggling to handle it on your own, don’t hesitate to contact me. Together, we’ll work on strategies that will put you back in control.
If you are interested in learning ore about how to address anxiety naturally, you are encouraged to reach out for help. Wellness Matters has therapists who are highly trained and experienced in working with people who experience anxiety. Feel free to contact Wellness Matters to set up an appointment. You can connect with the Wellness Matters Intake Coordinator by texting or calling 218-616-1276.
At Wellness Matters, the intake process is all on-line and can be done in less than fifteen minutes. On-line appointments make it possible to attend appointments from the comfort from your home or office. In-person services may also be available for people living in northern MN.
