Natural Resources for Managing Anxiety
There are many ways to treat anxiety. However, prescription drugs aren’t always right for everyone. There was a period of time when I couldn’t bear the thought of taking medication for my mental health. While this was partially due to the stigma of medicating my emotions, I also just didn’t want to put more chemicals into my body than I needed to.
For a few years, changing my lifestyle was the best way for me to address my anxiety. At the time, I wasn’t taking great care of myself; overwhelmed with school and work, I decided to neglect my physical and mental health for the sake of prioritizing areas that seemed more pressing. However, one day it hit me: I need to be nicer to my body and mind if I want them to help me accomplish everything I need to do each day without suffering.
Without realizing it, many people suffer from anxiety because they aren’t taking enough care of their physical and mental health. Although natural resources may not be the right course of action for everyone, taking better care of yourself and trying them may help.
Relaxation Tactics
Relaxation time is often neglected to make time for less flexible areas of our day. Some people don’t realize that it’s actually really important to spend some time doing nothing, as it helps with creativity and productivity. When you cut leisure out of your life, you starve your brain of the time it needs to recharge. Being present can help. This is known as mindfulness, and it’s something you can do while idle, meditating, or during yoga.
Instead of saying “yes” to everything you get asked to do each day, try saying “no” sometimes. Spend some well-deserved time sunbathing, reading, or daydreaming. It may feel strange at first, but I promise it helps. If your anxiety steps in and tries to ruin your relaxation time, ward it off gently; your feelings are valid, and letting yourself sit with feelings of anxiety can help you cope with it better in the future.
Aromatherapy
I once worked with a woman who suffered from frequent and serious headaches. She always trudged through the workday. But one day, she sat at her desk holding a small glass bottle to her nose. She found a lavender essential oil that helped ease her headaches. She offered me a drop for my wrist, and as I smelled it throughout the day, I found my mood was improving. It cleared my head and quieted my thoughts, producing a serene and calm feeling.
Aromatherapy has been used for a long time, and although the science behind it is limited, it has been found to help relieve anxiety and depression, along with other benefits. Different scents produce different effects. That being said, it’s a good idea to consult your healthcare provider before committing to aromatherapy for treatment.
Natural Supplements
Another natural supplement that has helped many people relieve their anxiety is CBD oil. When combined with other healthy habits, CBD oil can help people cope with anxiety. Due to the federal government passing the 2018 farm bill, which now considers hemp as part of the agriculture industry, the public is now free to use CBD oil as a treatment option.
Another thing that is often overlooked when it comes to mental health is eating right. This means eating enough and choosing foods that don’t make your body feel terrible. Some people are more sensitive to this than others, but it’s important for everyone to make sure they are eating the right foods to get the vitamins and minerals their bodies need. Without them, you body won’t be able to produce the chemicals it needs to thrive. It took me longer than I care to admit to make the connection between my diet and mental health.
Improving Your Sleep
I think a lot of people, including myself, failed to recognize the body’s transition from being a teenager to a young adult. It’s called “getting older” — your body simply can’t keep up with your teenage habits of getting three hours of sleep and being ready to go the next day. When I continued doing this into my 20s, my anxiety definitely stepped up a notch.
However, when I gave that up, I saw an enormous number of benefits that came with more sleep. This made me never consider getting less than six hours of sleep every night. I got sick less often, my body felt better, school became easier, and my mental health improved significantly. Now, I recognize that lack of sleep directly affects my levels of anxiety.
Today, I use a combination of both prescription medication and natural resources to manage my anxiety. Prescription medication helps give my brain the chemicals it needs to function properly, but natural resources help with everything else. Eating enough healthy foods makes me feel strong, and getting enough sleep makes me feel ready to take on each day. These changes weren’t easy, and I still find myself not taking enough care of myself sometimes. However, I’m much healthier today than I ever have been before, and that’s a good goal for everyone.
