Living in a busy world makes stress and anxiety inevitable. Controlled anxiety is crucial as it makes you conscious of danger, helps you to stay organized and prepared, and assists you in calculating risks. However, recurred anxiety may adversely affect your quality of life.
Stress is how you respond when subjected to pressure or threats. It usually occurs when you are in circumstances that you feel are beyond your control. Also, overwhelming responsibilities can subject you to stress.
Anxiety is your body’s intrinsic response to stress. A feeling of fear or worry develops due to multiple factors, including genetics, environment, and brain chemistry. Some typical symptoms of anxiety include; a surge in heart rate, rapid breathing, restlessness, difficulty concentrating, and others. Here are natural ways to find relief from stress and anxiety:
1. Stay Active
Regular exercises play a significant role in your mental health. They tend to avert your attention from something that is promoting anxiety. Increasing your heart rate also alters the brain chemistry to create immense space for anti-anxiety neurochemicals, such as serotonin, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and endocannabinoids.
According to the American Psychological Association (APA), staying active promotes concentration and willpower, which can deal with particular anxiety symptoms. You can indulge in several exercises depending on your preferences. For instance, if you aim to get your heart rate up, you can participate in high-intensity interval training (HIIT) or running.
Additionally, you can embark on aerobic exercises at least two to three times a week. Such vigorous activities aid in minimizing stress levels and enhancing mood. If your current life is sedentary, begin with moderate activities such as walking or biking.
2. Follow a Healthy Diet
Diet considerably impacts every aspect of your health, including mental health. You’re more susceptible to higher perceived stress levels if you consume a diet rich in ultra-processed foods and added sugars. Consuming sufficient nutrient-dense whole foods is an excellent way of curbing stress and anxiety.
They contain essential nutrients such as magnesium and B vitamins that are vital for regulating stress. Also, incorporate more whole foods in your diet such as vegetables, fruits, beans, fish, nuts, and seeds. Consequently, you will enhance your resilience to stress.
3. Use CBD
Marijuana has two primary ingredients; THC and CBD. THC is the psychoactive compound, and it’s the one behind the “high” linked with marijuana. CBD is a non-psychoactive compound utilized for many prospective therapeutic purposes.
Cannabis is an excellent addition for people who want to curb stress and anxiety. It leads to an increased sense of calm, enhances relaxation, and prevents insomnia. Marijuana, in particular, aids in alleviating symptoms of agoraphobia, social anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), panic disorder, and phobias.
However, marijuana shouldn’t be misused. For safe use, you can opt for CBD over THC since large quantities of THC worsens anxiety symptoms. Also, use a controlled amount of marijuana. You can buy some from a dispensary. Several cannabis dispensary locations near Bend, Oregon, offer safe access to recreational and medical marijuana with zero stigmatization.
4. Spend Time with Friends and Family
You can minimize stress and anxiety by improving your social life. A robust social support network prevents harmful coping mechanisms such as drinking alcohol, smoking or doing drugs. Also, the emotional support offered by friends and family enhances psychological well-being, boosts happiness, and minimizes stress.
Apart from friends and relatives, you can also join social groups, a club, or a sports team. You can also volunteer for a case that is crucial to you.
5. Laugh
Develop a good sense of humor and laugh. Although laughter cannot cure all ailments, it plays a fundamental role in relieving stress and anxiety. You can force or practice laughing if you have nothing to laugh about. You can also embrace technology. For instance, identify a laugh track phone app. There are numerous apps for laughing available in your Google.
Laughter stimulates endorphins and minimizes stress hormones, including dopamine, cortisol, and epinephrine. Laughing diverts your thoughts and enhances refocus while permitting you to discard all anxious thoughts and feelings that might interfere with your life.
Conclusion
It is normal to experience stress or anxiety in life. However, being chronically stressed harms your health and mental health. Fortunately, several natural, evidence-based strategies can assist you in minimizing stress and enhancing your overall psychological well-being.
