How to fight your anxiety without self-medicating.
There is no sugarcoating the fact that we live in very stressful times. Ever since 2020, it feels like we have been living in an alternate reality, or that we’ve been transported into the twilight zone.
Previously, our lives were already full of the stresses of careers, relationships, families, politics, and social media. 2020 decided to throw a pandemic on top, and 2022 decided that a few civil rights violations were just what the doctor ordered. Sidebar: I’m a doctor, and I did NOT order this.
Long story short, sometimes it can feel like we are living in a pressure cooker of stress. Anxiety levels have increased across the board, and we are all scrambling for ways to alleviate that stress. If your anxiety is chronic and debilitating, medication is always an option. However, if you want to find all-natural remedies for your stress, here are doctor-approved suggestions.
Eat Something- Hunger is one of the leading causes of anxiety, so try eating a small snack.
Drink Chamomile Tea- Some ingredients in chamomile bind to the same brain receptors as valium, just FYI.
READ MORE: Five Herbal Teas to Help Reduce Stress
Breathe Lavender- Inhaling lavender oil is known to have a calming effect on the body and reduce stress.
Breathing Exercises- Breathing exercises like the 4-second method (breathe in for 4 seconds, hold for 4 seconds, release for 4 seconds) is a natural and easy way to reduce anxiety.
Eat Omega-3’s- Research shows that people who ingest high levels of Omega-3s (up to 2,000 mg per day) have lower levels of overall stress.
Get some Exercise- There is nothing like exercise to clear your mind and reduce your stress. Even if you have to trick yourself into doing ‘five minutes on the treadmill’, you will most likely keep walking until all your troubles disappear.
Meditate- Meditation is hard, until you get the hang of it. It remains a very effective way to relax, and there are plenty of apps out there to help you ease into it.
Explore Nature- Nature is one of the best stress relievers out there! Even if you just take a 20 minute walk in the park it will do wonders for your anxiety.
Practice Gratitude- Taking five minutes to think about all the things in your life that you are grateful for can have a calming effect.
Eat Hops- Hops (the same ones found in beer) are known to have sedative properties, but must be taken in supplement form (tinctures or extracts).