Anxiety is quickly becoming one of the most common debilitating mental illnesses in the world, affecting millions of people every single day. For the purpose of understanding, it’s highly necessary to underline the difference between anxiety disorder and anxiety. Anxiety is what we know as being a normal body response to stressful situations, mostly portrayed by a fight or flight state in the face of the unknown, alarming circumstances, and a considerable amount of worrying thoughts. But when the feelings of fear and nervousness are tricky to manage, and the anxiety persists, it is usually an anxiety disorder.
However, uncertain periods like this can also be detrimental for those who already suffer from anxiety. Recent events have disrupted our daily life and brought a lot of fear and confusion. Nevertheless, we must remember that whenever things are uncertain around us, we don’t feel safe, and it’s normal to feel stressed. Psychologists advise people to look for natural remedies and prioritize their mental wellbeing during self-isolation. Also, a great way to avoid anxiety from breaking your daily peace would be to stick with a routine and implement small but proactive habits that will keep both your mind and body busy during this time.
Exercise, a lot
Millions of people suddenly find themselves with plenty of time in their hands. But this might be the perfect time to lose those pounds and get in shape for the summer. Due to social distancing practices to limit further outbreak, many find themselves locked in with family or only with a roommate around. The given circumstances caused or even encouraged some people to dive deeper into their hobbies, focus those long-forgotten creative projects and work out.
Exercise has always been a much-preferred tool against anxiety. It’s a great way to relieve stress and anxiety in the body by challenging that energy into something more productive. How does it work? Well, basically almost every type of physical activity can help you release endorphins which act as natural painkillers and allow your body to enhance its overall cognitive function. Self-isolation might be bearable if you establish a proper work-out schedule and stick with it.
Working out can help you release dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine, or the “feel-good” neurotransmitters that will make you feel refreshed and ready to face difficulties. Moreover, further research has shown that maintaining a regular set of exercise has been linked to improve mood, reduce anxiety and stress, enhance concentration and sleep, and lower incidence of panic attacks.
No matter what you choose to get busy with this period, intense periods of work out can mitigate the anxiety symptoms for a few hours, while regular exercise such as yoga, biking or Pilates or walking can lessen anxiety symptoms over time.
Consider CBD
A study published last year in the Journal of Affective Disorders found that CBD can effectively reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression and stress. During this time, most probably you find yourself exploring movies, food dishes and other activities you usually wouldn’t think of otherwise. Like, for example, using CBD to treat anxiety and lessen the feelings of boredom which is a reason enough. However, this natural remedy to boredom and stress is very safe to use and not at all addictive.
Common side effects may include increased appetite and altered mood, dizziness and nausea and dry mouth. Moreover, chances to overdose with CBD are incredibly rare as an average human body can handle doses over 1500mg for long periods of time. It’s also important to remember that CDB products don’t contain Tetrahydrocannabinol, the substance that gets you “high”. Moreover, when purchasing hemp flower, make sure you only do it from proven and reputable brands to avoid inconvenience.
CBD has proven highly efficient in regulating the levels of serotonin in the body, mitigating the effects of anxiety and stress. To proper dosage CBD, as the experts advise, it might depend on factors such as age, weight, and intensity of symptoms. They also recommend starting with a low dosage and then gradually increase the quantity.
Don’t Underestimate Meditation
Maintaining emotional and mental wellbeing is essential for this period. Right now, the single most important thing you can do is to develop a routine so you can stick with and find a sense of normalcy amid the chaos. A great way to reflect on your inner feeling and reduce the pressure from anxiety and stress would be to stick with your routine Meditation. By meditating you encourage calmness and a more profound sense of awareness, you may regain control of your thoughts and obtain better clarity in these uncertain times.
Everyone should take Meditation seriously during this time, especially when they can’t face overwhelming feelings. Practising Meditation can help your body better regulate its response to a stressful situation. Thus, no matter if you choose to practice breath awareness meditation, mindfulness, Kundalini yoga or transcendental Meditation, this can be an excellent tool to alleviate and manage the symptoms of anxiety.
Diet and Nutrition
A most common trigger for anxiety symptoms is an unbalanced and inadequate diet. With so much time at your disposal, it would be a shame not to experiment with those long-forgotten recipes for which you never had enough time. A balanced, healthy diet can have long-term effects on your physical and mental health. Thus, make sure you cook something that will satisfy both your body.
Specific food types are famous for reducing feelings of anxiety, for instance, foods rich in zinc, such as oysters, cashews, liver and beef. Foods rich in magnesium, such as spinach, legumes and whole grains are well known to work wonders for your mood. Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acid and Vitamin B such as avocado, asparagus and kale are known to curb anxiety and reduce stress efficiently.
Even though we might live uncertain times, it’s also an excellent opportunity to rethink your existing habits and work on rethinking new healthier habits that will put your life back on track. So, don’t forget to channel this time and energy on working to become a better, more balanced, healthier and stronger person.