How to Reduce Anxiety... Naturally

Stress is a natural part of life. It is part of living in a busy world with deadlines, traffic, and other tension-inducing issues. And stress is right for you in many ways because it keeps you sharp and helps you deal with what life throws at you, but sometimes what you’re feeling isn’t stress, or at least not normal stress. Sometimes it is a condition called anxiety. And while some anxiety is normal, too many symptoms can lead to an anxiety disorder.

The symptoms of anxiety are an elevated heart rate, agitation, excessive worry, feeling restless or edgy, fighting fatigue for no reason, a hard time concentrating, tensing your muscles, being easily irritated, having trouble sleeping, experiencing a panic attack, and purposefully avoiding social situations.

An anxiety attack can be debilitating and cause even more stress by making you unable to work, sleep, or socialize with friends. While there are many medications on the market for anxiety, sometimes you’d instead reach for something more natural. Here are a few ways to relieve the triggers of tension in your life.

- Ditch stimulants: these include caffeine in all forms (and yes, green tea does have caffeine), nicotine (again, in all forms including your vape), foods you’re sensitive to (gluten for those with sensitivity, artificial colors, and sweeteners, etc.) and medications to keep you awake. Most migraine medications have caffeine, too, so mind what you’re taking.

- Avoid alcohol, including that glass of wine. Because it is naturally sedative, you may think it is the right thing to calm your nerves or take the edge off. The challenge is that when the alcohol wears off, your anxiety may be worsened.

- Get some exercise. Physical exercise increases your oxygen intake and relieves the stress in muscles. The act of exercising and counting reps, steps, and moves keeps your mind occupied too so that it can naturally calm down when the endorphins from your workout hit your brain.

- Try meditation or a meditative exercise. You may be too anxious to sit and relax for long, but even a few minutes of deep breathing at a time throughout the day can help your body relax. Studies show that 30 minutes of daily meditation may alleviate symptoms and stresses of anxiety. If sitting still just isn’t in the cards, try a meditative exercise like Yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi, or Qi Gong.

- Finally, practice good sleep hygiene. Only sleep at night. Don’t read or watch television in bed. Put down devices before entering your bedroom. Keep your room cool. Go to bed at the same time each night. Write down your worries and concerns in a journal before you turn in for the night.

To relieve the stress and anxiety of buying or selling your home, don’t try to do it on your own. Enlist the help of a real property professional to handle the hard stuff and explain and address anything that concerns you.