Anxiety is a mental health disorder characterized by feelings of worry, anxiety, or fear that are strong enough to interfere with one’s daily activities. Some symptoms are excessive worry, intrusive thoughts, and fatigue. While experiencing occasional anxiety is normal, people who have been diagnosed with anxiety disorders frequently deal with intense and excessive worry and fear regarding everyday situations.
There are several natural ways to arise from anxiety such as:
Breathing exercises
Breathing is essential to life and is often second nature, but scientific evidence supports breathing to improve mental health concerns. According to the National Institutes of Health, deep breathing exercises are an active process involving conscious regulation of inhaling and exhaling. The best way to practice breathing exercises is to focus on changing the depth of breathing. Relaxing breathing exercises can help reduce negative emotions and improve overall mental health.
Yoga
Yoga is good for stress management and has styles for all levels, including beginners. While not proven to cure anxiety, yoga can be more effective in managing anxiety. By focusing on your breath and the poses, you can quiet negative thoughts and boost your mood. Poses like the Hero, Tree, and Standing Forward are beginner-friendly and can help relax your mind. Remember, yoga may bring uncomfortable feelings so it is best to practice in a space that allows you to feel calm and safe.
Meditation
Practicing meditation can be a great way to ease anxiety and stress. While it may be hard to sit in silence initially, meditating has so many benefits. The goal is to find a quiet space so you won’t be distracted by your surroundings or interrupted by people. Get in a comfortable position, close your eyes, focus on your breath, acknowledge your thoughts and be in the moment – this is meditation. Even just a few minutes of meditation a day can decrease your anxiety and overall stress levels.
Essential oils
Essential oils can ease feelings associated with anxiety and mental health. Bergamot, Lavender, Rose, and Ylang-ylang are some of the best essential oils for anxiety. Breathing in essential oils, whether applied topically or inhaled when diffused in the air, has been shown to improve mood and mental wellness by triggering the release of calming neurochemicals, such as GABA, in the nerve centers of the brain. (Gazella, 2022) There are many essential oils for anxiety and ways to be used, such as a bath or shower, diffuser, inhale directly, massage, spray, steam bowl, or roll-ons.
The key to arising from anxiety is to reduce stress. While these are just a few natural ways to deal with anxiety, it’s okay to explore other options and find what works best for you and your anxiety level. It is always important to consult with your healthcare provider about what synergistic herbs will be most suitable for you.
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Gazella, K., 2022. 8 Best Essential Oils for Anxiety. [online] Fullscript. Available at: <https://fullscript.com/blog/essential-oils-that-help-with-anxiety> [Accessed 23 May 2022].