When you’re in the middle of an episode or panic attack feeling as if there is no escape and like the world is crumbling around you, it can be a lonely experience. But it is important to remember that you are not alone. Indeed, around 6.8 million people in the USA suffer from anxiety disorders. The good news is that being willing and serious about helping yourself can make it easier to see improvements in your mental health. Here are methods which have been proven to reduce anxiety and assist people in getting out of that hole. Of course, if you feel you have a serious problem it would be best to visit a specialist.
Yoga and Exercise
Winning the battle against anxiety can often be achieved by putting more effort into getting the body healthy. By keeping to a yoga and exercise regime, the mind can benefit greatly. These activities make people focus on their body, rather than their minds, and this can lead to a reduction in insidious thoughts.
Physical activity stimulates the release of endorphins in the brain, which are considered to be natural painkillers. The research points to exercise or yoga as a great way to remedy some of the short term effects of anxiety disorders but notes that it may not reach the core of the problem.
CBD
There is an increasing amount of research to support the benefits of CBD on anxiety disorders. Academics who have researched cannabis for anxiety have found that CBD intake can cause blunted stress reactions from those undergoing stressful stimuli.
Tests were also done on people who had a generalized social anxiety disorder. Half the participants were given a placebo, while a 600mg dose of CBD was administered to the other group. It was found that those who had the CBD had greater improvement in subjective and physiological anxiety measures than the control group.
Change Your Diet
Along with healthy living through exercise, a change in diet may help anxiety sufferers reduce the number of instances of experiencing problems. There are some substances that are known to increase stress, and these include things like nicotine, alcohol, and caffeine. Cutting out these things and eating a balanced diet of superfoods could bring about serious improvements.
Food with omega-3 fatty acids can help reduce symptoms of anxiety. This includes salmon, walnuts, sardines, and flaxseeds. Lemon balm, green tea, and dark chocolate are also recommended. Of course, the latter of the three should be eaten in moderation. Making a meal plan using some of the stress-reducing food items in each meal could be a great way to battle anxiety.
Doing any one of these things on its own could help reduce anxiety, but combining them all could bring about some major changes. In addition to switching to a brand new lifestyle, it may help to use some neuro-linguistic programming techniques to rewire your brain and help you to think differently.
