Many people suffer from anxiety for a variety of reasons. Sometimes it can be because of work and Monday blues, family issues, or in more serious cases because of a chemical imbalance in the brain. Anxiety is something which can feel overwhelming and as if you are trapped in a cycle of hopelessness.
Although medication can be prescribed for anxiety, there are several ways which you can reduce the effects of anxiety without the need for drugs. Here are some of the best ways to reduce your anxiety and increase a calm state of mind.
Avoid Alcohol and Substances
Drinking too much alcohol or taking other substances is something that may temporarily relieve feelings of stress. Consuming these things is often used as a band-aid to cover up uncomfortable feelings but, in reality, isn’t fixing anything long term. Drinking is something which induces feelings of relaxation and euphoria and people tend to forget their problems after a few drinks. However, the next day your body goes through the hangover which can increase feelings of anxiety and make your stress feel even more amplified than before.
Try to minimize your intake of these things or eliminate them altogether and you will find that your anxiety is much less intense.
Get Physical Exercise
People who feel overwhelmed by feelings of anxiety should try to get in at least 30 minutes of exercise a day or more. Exhausting your body will get rid of tension through physical exertion and in turn, reduce feelings of anxiety emotionally.
Try to get your heart rate up to a point where you begin to sweat. If you don’t have a heart rate monitor, one way to determine whether you are working out hard enough is whether you are able to sustain a conversation without feeling out of breath. If you are working hard enough it should be challenging to speak since your breaths are more staggered as a result of a higher heart rate.
Avoid Negative Thought Patterns
One of the best ways to cure anxiety is to stop it before it even starts. Identify and observe when you start to enter a negative pattern of thinking which in turn will start to spiral into a panic. If you start to feel yourself beginning to worry and obsess over things which stress you out, stop what you are doing immediately and distract yourself with something pleasant.
This can be anything from picking up the phone and calling a friend, watching a funny video, or even just going for a small walk.
Some people have animals which they use for anxiety relief. Many people find that having a furry companion by their side distracts and comforts them before a panic attack is able to occur.
