Calm anxiety with these Natural Remedies
In a world full of stresses, many individuals suffer from anxiety disorders. When fears about money, work, family or relationships get thrown into the mix, symptoms of anxiety can become amplified, causing even the hardiest of folks to experience frayed nerves.
Whatever the case, you may be hesitant to try anti-anxiety medications because you fear the side effects. This is particularly true for men, who sometimes buy into masculine stereotypes that suggest they can “handle” stress on their own.
Related: How men make their anxiety worse
Perhaps one of the most powerful and natural ways to cope with anxiety is by working with a counselor who specializes in anxiety. But for a variety of reasons, namely financial, seeing a therapist may not be an option.
If some of what’s been mentioned above describes you, here are 10 natural ways to help calm your anxiety that are widely considered safe. Try one or more to see if you realize any potential benefits.
1.Chamomile Tea
A warm mug of chamomile tea is both an anecdotal and proven source of anxiety reduction. This herbal remedy has been shown to reduce anxiety in people with Generalized Anxiety Disorder and it has been used for hundreds of years to calm nerves. In fact, drinking chamomile tea is part of a comprehensive approach to stress free, mindful living.
2. Get Into Nature
Being in nature has been found to reduce anxiety in a number of studies so if there’s a park or a nature walk near you, pull your shoes on and get out there. A walk, a run, or even just sitting on a park bench for twenty minutes can helpfully reduce your stresses.
3. Tryptophan-Rich Foods
Tryptophan is a natural relaxant and foods that are rich in tryptophan have been shown to reduce anxiety. Try reaching for oats, sesame seeds, chicken, bananas, or chickpeas for a boost of this naturally-occurring relaxing chemical.
4. Lavender
The scent of lavender can be wonderfully relaxing and anxiety-reducing. Try burning a lavender candle or incense, or sprinkling a couple of drops of lavender essential oil onto your pillow before you go to bed.
5. Cut Alcohol and Caffeine
Consuming alcohol and caffeine can bring about anxiety and heighten the feelings, so try to avoid them when you’re feeling anxious. Of course, having less booze and coffee is good for you in general so working on limiting your intake can be good for your physical and mental health. FYI: Reducing these can also help to eliminate stress related pimples.
6. Laugh
Laughter yoga has become a popular means of reducing stress but you don’t have to go to a class to calm your anxiety. Simply watch your favorite comedy routine, chat to a funny friend, or even just force yourself to fake laugh until you find yourself giggling for real.
7. Stay Warm
Raising your body temperature is a well-proven anxiety reducer and it can be achieved in many ways, from exercising to sitting in a sauna to a simple hot bath. You could even try sitting outside on a warm day or curling up by a fireplace to reduce nervousness and anxiety.
8. Exercise
Related to body heat, exercise in itself is a great anxiety reducer. Moving your body for just twenty minutes a day, or whenever you can, can help to lower your stress levels in the moment and over time.
9. Omega-3
Getting between one and four grams of omega-3 fatty acids can help to reduce anxiety and bring about good moods in people with clinical anxiety and everyday stresses. Fish oil supplements, fresh fish, walnuts, and fortified soy milk are all great sources of this anxiety-buster.
10. Lemon Balm
The use of lemon balm to reduce anxiety has been documented for over 600 years. You can buy lemon balm infused into teas, tinctures, or as an essential oil and the delicious citrusy scent will help to reduce your anxiety and keep you alert.
Of course, if your anxiety is debilitating and these remedies don’t help then you should consult a medical or psychological professional, but in some cases, a little natural help is all you need.
Natural Remedies for Anxiety Book
If you are interested in learning more about natural ways to calm anxiety, I encourage you to pick up a copy of Natural Anxiety Relief by Rose Graham (Amazon). Inside you’ll find lots of practical insight on what aggravates anxiety and makes it worse.
