Natural Fixes for Stress and Anxiety

Are you under a lot of stress? Do you find anxiety difficult to unwind from? We got you. There are treatments you can take to relieve stress and anxiety. But if you’d like a quick (or quick enough) fix that’s natural, while deciding on what kind of treatment you need, try one, or all, of our suggestions below. They’re simple, straightforward, and you can start today! 

Chew gum

Yup, this is probably the quickest of the quick fixes for stress and anxiety. But it’s based on science, we promise.

A study showed chewing gum can lower anxiety and depression, reduce stress, and make people feel good. When you chew gum, you actually create brain waves that are similar to those when you’re relaxed. So the next time you feel overwhelmed, pop a stick of gum in your mouth.

Sleep well

Yes, really. When you sleep deeply and long enough each night, feelings of anxiety tend to get less overwhelming, or disappear altogether. We know sleeping may be difficult to do, at least at first. After all, insomnia is common in people with anxiety. But you must keep trying. Deep sleep has been found to be a natural anxiety reliever. In fact, studies show that people who sleep deeply (and long enough) at night experience the least anxiety the next day. On the other hand, anxiety levels shoot up by 30 percent after a sleepless night. 

That’s why it’s important to make a conscious effort to get some shut-eye.

Here’s your sleep game plan:

• Have a consistent bedtime. If you do this long enough, your body will automatically crave sleep when bedtime comes up.
• Coffee, smoking, and heavy meals are a no-no at least an hour before bedtime.
• Create a worry journal. About a couple hours before sleeping, list down your worries. And across each worry, write your plan to resolve it. Then shut the journal, leaving your thoughts inside the cover. 

Keep your bedroom dark, or at least dim

If you have anxiety, chances are you’re also prone to light sensitivity. Avoid fluorescent lighting and switch to CFLs and halogen lighting.

Another light source that can make it hard for you to relax and sleep is your mobile phone. The blue light from your phone’s screen suppresses the production of melatonin, which your body needs to figure out when it’s time to sleep. See if you can stay away from your phone at least an hour before sleeping.

Read: 4 Effective and Natural Remedies for Insomnia

Walk it off

When you exercise, your body releases less cortisol (a.k.a. stress hormones), and more endorphins (a.k.a. happy hormones). That’s not all. Regular exercise also makes you sleep better and builds up your confidence. All these things put together can help relieve stress and keep anxiety down to a minimum.

Walking and jogging, even when you do it at home on a treadmill, are great because they involve repetitive movements of large muscle groups. That can help get rid of stress quickly. If you choose to head outside, you’ll also get the benefits of more oxygen and connecting with nature, which is great for grounding your soul. Just remember to do it regularly.

 Try Essential Oils

Essential oils in oil diffusers or in the bath not only smell great, they’re therapeutic, too (a.k.a. aromatherapy). Smelling fragrant and calming scents can help reduce stress. Lavender is the go-to for anxiety, stress, depression and sleep disorders, according to many studies. And you can get it in your local chemist or grocery store - how easy is that! 

Try these on their own or in combination: 

• Lavender
• Rose
• Sandalwood
• Ylang ylang
• Frankincense
• Orange or orange blossom

Read: How does Mindfulness Reduce Stress?

Watch a funny movie

It’s a cliché because it’s true: laughter is the best medicine. When you laugh, you relax muscles, release negative and stuck energy and relieve your stress response. In fact, laughing can have the same effect on your body as regular exercise does—goodbye cortisol, hello endorphins. If you laugh daily, eventually it can even boost your immune system, not to mention your mood.

Say no

Often, our anxiety is triggered because we get overwhelmed by all the things we need to do, whether at work, in school, or at home. One of the secrets to being relatively stress-free is to just say no to the things that unnecessarily cause you stress. If you’re feeling bad about saying “No” to others, remember… saying “No” to someone else, is saying “Yes” to yourself and your own wellbeing. Empower yourself by saying “No” more often. 

Handling stress and anxiety is tricky—you need to be mindful about how you’re feeling and find ways to manage it. The good thing is, there are natural fixes you can do yourself. Just remember: the first step is to acknowledge that sometimes, you can get overwhelmed with stress and anxiety, and that’s okay. That gets you to the next step, which is to do something about it.

Visit  Everything Alternative for more articles to help you live your best life naturally.