Anxiety is something that affects many of us at some point during our lifetime. In fact, data suggests that almost 20% of Americans suffer from anxiety disorders.
The understanding of and treatment for mental health issues such as depression and anxiety has come a long way, and it goes without saying that you should seek help from your doctor if you think you might be suffering from one or more of these mental health issues.
However, there are also some actions you can take to try to treat the symptoms of anxiety yourself at home, without medication. With that in mind, here are 5 natural remedies to treat anxiety.
1. Mindfulness Practice & Meditation
Mindfulness and meditation are both practices in which you endeavor to have a heightened sense of awareness and control over your own thoughts and feelings. Mindfulness can help you to be more present by letting go of anxiety about the past and the future and experiencing the now. Therefore, mindfulness and meditation practice might help you to treat anxiety from home.
2. Exercise More
You’re probably sick of this one, as it’s one of the most commonly recommended treatments for anxiety and depression. Of course, as with many treatments for mental health issues, it won’t work for everyone, but it’s definitely worth a shot. Exercising more can cause your body to produce more endorphins, hormones which can create feelings of positivity. This spike in ‘positive hormones’ might be just what you need to battle your anxiety.
3. Focus on the Positives
I know, this is easier said than done. Part of the problem with anxiety and depression is that it causes you to fixate on the negatives and feel hopeless or unhappy. Focusing on the positives is hard, but it might help to put you back into a cycle of positive thinking. I’m not saying it will definitely work, and I’m not saying it’s easy to do. Make a practice of trying to think of three good things that happened in your day every night before you go to sleep.
4. Eat a Healthy, More Balanced Diet
Anxiety and depression can have all kinds of effects on your lifestyle. For some people, one of the symptoms is a change in eating habits. Some people lose their appetite, while others overeat comfort food. Both of these changes can, in turn, worsen your anxiety or depression by reducing the amount of quality nutrition you put into your body.
Nutrition is very important for all sorts of physiological processes. The foods you put into your body can affect your thoughts and feelings more than you might think, so try to eat a healthy balanced diet with plenty of vitamins and minerals.
5. Engage in More Social Activities
Anxiety can cause you to lock yourself away and avoid socializing with others. As with many of the symptoms of anxiety, this too can cause it to worsen. A lack of social stimulus is bad for your mental health, so avoiding social activities can get you into a negative cycle. Make a concerted effort to interact with others more. If you have a limited social circle, you could achieve this by joining clubs or volunteering.
That concludes our list of 5 ways to treat anxiety. Remember that these are just some ideas, you should consult your doctor for professional medical advice.