There’s no denying the fact that anxiety afflicts millions of people around the world. While the triggers and severity vary from person to person, it’s an issue that can have a significant impact on quality of life and even health.
Unfortunately, there’s no magic pill or treatment that works for everyone, but learning how to manage and handle anxiety better overall can make a huge difference. Whether you suffer from intermittent episodes or it’s something you deal with every day, perhaps some of the tips below will help.
1. Try Essential Oils
Aromatherapy has been used for thousands of years. Generally, it involves using plant extracts and essential oils to help people relax, sleep, reduce heart rate/blood pressure, and boost their mood. While there’s no scientific data to confirm their benefits, some of the oils that may help with anxiety are:
- Lavender
- Chamomile
- Bergamot
- Clary sage
- Ylang ylang
- Grapefruit
2. Get Better Sleep
Quality sleep is a critical ingredient for managing anxiety. However, this issue can be somewhat cyclical when anxiety is the underlying reason for poor sleep and makes you focus so hard on nodding off that it causes even more stress.
Thankfully, a few “tricks” may help you tackle insomnia and sleep better.
First, you must eliminate alcohol consumption at least 4 hours before bed. While you may use it to help you initially fall asleep, alcohol can reduce the amount of REM sleep you get, and the more you drink within that time frame, the more significant the impact. Give your body time to metabolize it, and you may sleep better.
Additionally, using the best weighted blanket you can find could help considerably with your sleep quality. This help put your autonomic nervous system into “rest” mode and decrease your heart rate. Combined, this can be calming and help induce better sleep. As a semi-pro tip, you may find help falling and staying asleep with cannabidiol/CBD oil for anxiety, which is derived from the hemp plant.
However, it doesn’t result in a “high”; it is non-addictive, and studies and clinical trials are showing promise with it reducing insomnia and anxiety.
3. Stay Active
A sedentary lifestyle may be all you feel “up” to, but it can actually exacerbate the issue. Too much downtime can cause you to hyper-focus on those things that make you anxious, and a proper home workout routine can help divert your attention to something more productive – getting and staying healthy.
Elevating your heart rate is also known to promote anti-anxiety neurochemicals in the brain, such as:
- Endocannabinoids (eCB) – eCB signalling regulates the sensitivity and magnitude of responses to stress.
- Serotonin – Low serotonin levels can increase anxiety.
- Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) – A neurotransmitter that produces a relaxation effect by inhibiting nervous system activity.
4. Meditate
One of the more popular ways to manage anxiety is meditation because it can help bring inner peace by wiping away the stress of the day. While there are several different forms, such as transcendental and spiritual meditation, mindfulness is generally the most popular, and there’s no need for a chakra meditation mat or other supplies.
Close your eyes, breathe slowly and deeply and let your thoughts flow freely. While no one can guarantee any treatment for anxiety, the above has shown much promise, and innumerable people tout their benefits. Pick one or two of the suggestions and try them out. To your surprise, one of the above tips may help elevate your anxiety symptoms; you have nothing to lose except a little bit of that anxiety.