It may start as minor concerns about things you can’t control in the future, like whether you make a fool of yourself during a job interview or if someone might not like you at a party. They could be simple things you’d have told someone else to “get over” in the past, but you can’t let go of the fears of what might happen.
Eventually, those worries spiral, and you can find the scariest outcome in the most innocent of events. Left untreated, this anxiety will control your life, keeping you from reaching your goals or living a normal life.
As debilitating as it can be, anxiety is also one of the most frequently treated mental health disorders in America. Patients who deal with anxiety often benefit from cognitive health therapy. Prescription medication can also be helpful. Many people have turned to medical marijuana over synthetic meds now that you can get the same benefits with edibles like coconut oil-infused foods (see this recipe from Veriheal).
But sometimes, knowing what causes your anxiety symptoms and adjusting your lifestyle habits accordingly is the best therapy. Here are some of the changes people with anxiety make in their daily habits with the most effective results.
1. Make Small Changes Toward Healthy Gut Habits
Many people don’t realize that their mental health is substantially controlled by their gut health. Decades of research shows that there’s a direct connection between our brains and digestive systems. When one is off-kilter, the other usually shows signs of distress.
For example, you’ve probably felt those ‘butterflies in your stomach’ when you were nervous about something. If you’re worried enough, it can even manifest as vomiting. You aren’t sick — you’re feeling strong emotions that show up as a gut issue. Stress and other psychological factors can affect how your gastrointestinal system works.
The same thing applies but in reverse when you’re not getting the nutrients and rest you need for your stomach and mind to be healthy. A lack of specific vitamins and minerals, like Vitamin D, Vitamin B, and Omega-3, can result in mood disorders. Starting with small steps, try making changes to your diet to include healthier foods with these ingredients, or add them to your routine in pill form each day.
Once you’ve made the switch to add nutrients to your diet, it’s time to begin weeding out the unhealthy foods and beverages that make you feel worse. Again, small changes are often more doable than big ones, so try to swap out your soda habit for drinks with less sugar and calories, then move to flavored water. Make the goal to increase your water consumption to stay well-hydrated and keep your gut and brain health in shape.
2. Stay Active
We get it. When you feel anxious or depressed, the last thing you want to do (unless you love working out) is to exercise. But getting active may be the most important thing you can do to overcome your mind’s anxious thought patterns.
Physical activity releases feel-good endorphins like dopamine that boost your mood. While you’re active, your mind has a chance to clear itself of the worries and anxious thoughts that clutter it when you’re not distracted.
Even better, when you’re active regularly, you get more restful sleep, and you feel more confident about yourself overall. Both of these side effects to exercise are excellent tools in combating anxiety naturally.
3. Find Soothing Activities You Enjoy
Part of your anxiety is a build-up of emotions, worries, and stress hormones. Releasing those hormones through soothing activities can help you feel less overwhelmed.
Try keeping a journal if you like writing. Pen your feelings onto paper, and follow the thoughts that way. You may find that writing them down takes away their power.
Yoga and meditation are other helpful practices that teach you how to control your thoughts. Most people find it challenging to sit still with no distractions. But this is precisely why, when you master these techniques, you gain control of your anxious thoughts easier. It doesn’t mean you won’t still have them. However, you’ll be able to process them and recognize which thoughts are important and which ones to let go.
Other calming therapies include listening to upbeat music, petting your dog or cat, reading a book, and getting out in nature. Whatever it is that you enjoy doing to relax, as long as it’s healthy, add it to your day.
Conclusion
Anxiety is a serious condition that affects millions of people globally. It’s perfectly acceptable to seek treatment for your anxious thoughts, but you can also try to control them on your own with these small daily lifestyle habit changes.
