If you’ve ever felt the overwhelming pangs of anxiety, you’re not alone. Each year, 40 million adults are affected by anxiety in one form or another, making it the most common mental illness in America. When triggered, anxiety manifests through rapid heart rates, restricted breathing, panicked cognitive states, and a slew of other symptoms. If you’re feeling drowned by these symptoms, there are remedies to ease their severity, if not cure them altogether. From holistic medicine to professional aid, these five methods to beat anxiety could be the ticket to your relief.
Essential oils
Essential oils have been the chosen method of holistic medicine for centuries. Ancient Egyptians used plant-based oils for cosmetics, medical aid, and religious ceremonies. Since then, these naturally-derived oils have risen in popularity for a wide range of uses. One of the highlights of using essential oils for anxiety is the diversity of its use. Whether applied topically or diffused, its benefits are endless. The next time anxiety has you in a stronghold, diffuse some pure rose oil, lavender, frankincense, or valerian. Combinations of various oils, either in rollers or diffusers, can also create an aromatic environment of relaxation and restoration. Inhale soothing aromas, exhale debilitating anxiety.
Sleep
Poor sleep has negative effects on both physical and mental health. It may seem difficult to improve your sleep patterns for your anxiety, as one can often affect the other, but it’s an important step to healing. On days when your anxiety is at its highest, do your best to schedule a full night’s sleep. If you’re feeling unable to enter deep sleep, creating an environment conducive to rest can be enough to relax the body. Avoid the blue light of technology and bright lights that trick your body’s circadian rhythm, find white noise or soft music to relax the mind and be still.
Meditation
Meditation and breathing exercises help to rewire the brain and its response to stress. In the moments of meditation, focus your mind on things that bring you comfort. One of the easiest ways to calm your breathing during an anxiety episode is to think of your senses. During your meditation, find something around you that you can see, smell, taste, or even hear. This process of refocusing your thoughts slowly calms both mind and body.
Journaling
It can be difficult to find the root of your anxiety, particularly in seasons of constant uproar. If you’re unsure where to start with healing, grab a journal. Writing the symptoms that you’re experiencing along with what’s going on around you can aid in finding triggers. In channeling these emotions into something tangible, you can also find a sense of catharsis. Ultimately, when you feel relief, write the cause down, as well. In future episodes, you’ll have a record of what both causes and relieves your anxiety for reference.
Therapy
One of the most effective ways to find relief is by first admitting you need help. Mental health is often stigmatized, and a large number of patients choose not to seek treatment as a result. Asking for help by attending therapy is not a sign of weakness, but rather of bravery and self-awareness. Sometimes, we are blind to the things that cause our fears and stressors, but others can see them clear as day. Having a third-party perspective in a professional setting can be the key to identifying triggers and eliminating further episodes. Anxiety specialists in NYC help their patients do exactly this by implementing various therapy methods like CBT, to find long-term relief from anxiety.
Finding relief from anxiety is not a one-size-fits-all process. It can often take a series of trial and error to determine what will ease your unique symptoms, but healing is entirely possible. The next time anxiety rears its ugly head, put these methods into action, and enjoy the calm they create.