Severe anxiety can be crippling. It renders you unable to live your day-to-day life. A lot of people feel embarrassed by their anxiety, preferring instead to keep it hidden. This is unwise since the body suffers the consequences of prolonged anxiety.
Anxiety is not about the brain alone. When the body detects fear, it starts producing cortisol and adrenaline. Very high levels of these hormones can damage the body if they don’t become lowered.
Anxiety is more common than you’d think. About 18% of the U.S. population has an anxiety disorder. Less than half of them are treated for it. Treatment for anxiety is typically comprised of medications. However, there are alternative ways to treat it. Here are some:
1. Exercise
Not only is exercise good for your physical health, but it is excellent for your mental wellbeing too. Regular exercise has many benefits, among them reducing anxiety levels.
Most people’s anxiety is triggered by stress. Stress comes in many forms. Most often, it is work-related or has something to do with personal relationships. When you’re feeling stressed, you start becoming anxious. You worry about the future, whether things will work out, and what will happen.
Cardiovascular exercise requires getting your heart rate up for at least 30 minutes. You can do cardiovascular exercises at the gym, go walking or running, or by working out at home. This type of activity reduces your blood pressure. Your body perceives high blood pressure as a stressor that can trigger anxiety.
2. Yoga
Yoga is a form of exercise that challenges the mind, body, and spirit. Through yoga, you can learn to be more centered and focused. This type of mindfulness is important if you’re constantly feeling worried about the future. You lose out on the present when you’re so anxious about what is to come.
Yoga is also good for your body and helps with fitness levels and health complications from being overweight. It might not look that difficult, but yoga requires a high degree of strength and endurance. Join a local yoga class to enjoy its benefits.
3. Acupuncture
Don’t assume that acupuncture is about a set of needles randomly pushed into your body for no apparent reason. There is a science behind acupuncture, in which special needles are inserted into pressure points. They allow for the release of stress and tension, which could be the cause of your anxiety.
It’s probably not a good idea to try acupuncture if you have a phobia of needles. The anxiety leading up to the treatment would be exhausting. However, regardless of how you feel about needles, those who have had successful acupuncture treatments say that it leaves them feeling calm and markedly less anxious.
If you’re going to try acupuncture, make sure you see a certified professional. Some people practice it without the necessary qualifications, and they could potentially make your situation worse.
4. Changes in diet
You are what you eat. A poor diet could be contributing to your anxiety. A lot of processed, salty, and sugary foods place a lot of stress on the body. They can lead to conditions such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, type two diabetes, and high blood pressure. Not making good food choices places the body under stress.
The body can only handle so much stress. When you’re subjecting it to physical stress from the eating choices you make, the body is unable to process other stressors that can cause you to feel anxious.
5. Herbal alternatives
There are some studies available about herbal remedies that can reduce or alleviate the symptoms of anxiety. However, there is more work to be done in terms of research. Before taking any such herbal remedies, it’s advisable to read about their side effects and how they might interact with other medications.
Find out about how much of the product you should be using. Taking too much can be dangerous. If you’re thinking about using a herbal remedy, but you aren’t sure if you should, consult your doctor for advice.
One of the better-known treatments is lavender. Used as an essential oil on the body or for aromatherapy, it helps to make you feel fully relaxed. Other examples include lemon balm, chamomile, valerian, passionflower, and kava.
6. CBD oil products
CBD is the subject of much research. It is believed to have a positive effect on the body’s endocannabinoid system. The system helps to maintain homeostasis, which is a state of balance within the body. This includes keeping hormones, such as cortisol, at lower levels, thereby reducing feelings of anxiety. As Verified CBD states CBD is effective in helping manage panic attacks and seasonal disorder. CBD was found to improve performance anxiety both for people with and without anxiety disorders.
CBD is the subject of much research. It is believed to have a positive effect on the body’s endocannabinoid system. The system helps to maintain homeostasis, which is a state of balance within the body. This includes keeping hormones, such as cortisol, at lower levels, thereby reducing feelings of anxiety.
