Stress and anxiety are part of our daily lives. Most times, we get so used to it that we do not realize the symptoms until we experience chronic stress. When stress becomes chronic, it implies that stress levels stay heightened longer than necessary, and stress hormones won’t stop firing.
While stress in itself is like a fire drill that prepares your body for emergency response, it is terrible in excess. Some symptoms of chronic stress manifest as:
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Depression
- Irritability
- Headaches
No one needs to suffer prolonged stress or anxiety because it has a domino effect that causes more chaos. So, we will talk about five tips for relieving stress and anxiety.
- Yoga and Exercise
When you think about stress relief, yoga seems more conceivable than exercising. Mental stress can be relieved by physical stress on our bodies. People who work out regularly are less prone to anxiety than those who do not.
The reason is that:
- Exercise stimulates the release of endorphins—endorphins boost your mood. It also reduces the level of cortisol—the stress hormone—in your body.
- Exercising improves your sleep quality.
- It boosts confidence and promotes self-love.
Yoga is a complete, stress relief plan. Some of its effects come from hormone control and blood pressure regulation, but others are because of the nature of yoga.
- Yoga focuses on even breathing which helps reduce panic
- It is excellent for the mind-body connection, which is a form of awareness that reduces stress and anxiety.
- Psychedelics, Aromatherapy, and Supplements
Many supplements reduce stress and anxiety. Some of the most common ones are omega-3 fatty acids, green tea, lemon balm, kava kava, and Valerian.
Aromatherapy happens when you use scents and essential oils to feel better. Lighting scented candles or using air diffusers will release a pleasurable calming effect into the air. Some calming scents are sandalwood, rose, frankincense, lavender, bergamot, orange blossom, roman chamomile, geranium, and more.
Medics use psychedelics to treat some psychiatry patients. While you may not feel like you are there yet, studies show that cannabis users experience some medical benefits. The top three reasons users bought cannabis were:
- Help with relaxation and confidence
- To help them sleep
- To relieve feeling anxious
These reasons are all correlated with stress. You can visit Weekend Gardener for more information on the results.
- Find your Happy Place and Go there
We all have our happy place, which is always the safest place to be under stress. For you, it may be a shopping spree or a vacation. It may be going to sleep it off for another person, while for others it may be when they are with family or friends.
Kissing someone, cuddling, hugging, or having sex helps relieve stress by producing oxytocin and lowering cortisol levels. Having physical contact lowers heart rate and blood pressure to release tension.
You have heard a bunch of times that “laughter is the soul’s medicine.” This quote is very accurate because it is not easy to remain anxious when you genuinely laugh. Also, long term effects of laughter include boosting the immune system.
A pet can boost your mood by giving you a sense of responsibility and purpose. Interaction with your pet may stimulate the release of oxytocin to promote a positive spirit.
- Indulge in Arts
Quality arts are very soothing. You can listen to good music, sounds of nature, instrumentals, or classical music—if you are a fan, anything that puts you in a good mood.
Another art you can involve in is writing. It does not need to be spectacular or dramatic; you can simply write how you feel, what you are grateful for, or the cause of your anxiety.
One other art that will help is visual arts. If you have the money and time, visit a gallery, watch an exhibition, or look at abstract paintings. If you don’t have enough cash, go to a museum or go to the beach or a nature trail or look up at the clouds.
- Enjoy a Good Meal
For starters, it is best to avoid caffeine and alcohol during anxiety and stress. Some foods you can take to boost your mood include:
- Salmon
- Yogurt
- Turmeric
- Dark chocolate
- Tea
In a Nutshell
Stress and anxiety are themes we face daily, and we need to learn how to combat them. Learning more about anxiety and stress itself and tips to fight them off can help you throughout your life.
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