Stress and anxiety are a common part of our lives, but they’re certainly damaging for both our physical as well as mental health. As a matter of fact, stress, when left undiagnosed and untreated, can eventually lead you towards depression and as a result, aggravate the entire situation, making it difficult to handle.
Fortunately, stress is something which is treatable. So, here we have some highly effective ways to get rid of stress and anxiety.
Make a Journal
One great way to counter stress is by writing down all those things that disturb the peace of your heart. It is the best way to find out what triggers your stress and anxiety in the first place.
They say, ‘it is not the stress that kills you, it is your reaction to it.’ Being stressed is one thing, how you respond to the stressful situation is another; therefore, controlling your stress response is mandatory. For that, figuring out what triggers the stress is essential.
So, make a journal and write your daily diary. Talk to yourself about all those things that contribute to your worry. Once you know your triggers, try and avoid them at all costs.
Get Back to Basics
Start working out! You may think of it as an optional step, but exercise is the best and most inexpensive way to relieve stress and anxiety. As mentioned by various studies, exercise on a daily basis can help boost your level of endorphins in the brain. Endorphins are a group of hormones responsible for your happy mood and peaceful state of mind. Thus, regular exercise can help you achieve the tranquil state of mind that anxiety took away from you.
Apart from that, exercise on a regular basis strengthens your immune system so it can fight stress on its own. In the case that you cannot make time for exercise during the day because of your hectic schedule, you can fix it by waking up a few minutes earlier in the morning, and you can go for a 15-minute morning walk. Get yourself moving and feel the difference!
Consider Using Herbs
While it is true that allopathic stress-relief medicines like antidepressants and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are sometimes seemingly-effective, the truth is actually on the contrary; they can cause more damage than good when used for an extended period. A few of the worst side effects of allopathic medicines include liver and stomach damage, slow brain functioning, constant fatigue and more. Hence, switching to herbs is the option worth considering
Herbs begin to work slowly, but they bring minimal to no side effects, which makes them a practical option. There are a number of herbs that you can rely upon in order to get rid of stress and anxiety. For example:
Saffron (Traditionally used as a spice in Indian cuisine, saffron is considered a highly effective alternative to antidepressants);
Lavender (Mostly used in aromatherapy, the scent of lavender possesses the power to calm the CNS and lower the level of stress hormones);
Medical Cannabis (You may find it surprising, but medical cannabis brings a bundle of health benefits including stress and anxiety relief when used in a moderate amount. You can read more about it at the Green Ace).
Talk to Your Loved Ones
Stress is something that not just clouds your judgement, but it also makes the world ‘black and white’ for you. To put everything into perspective, you ought to talk things through with your loved ones; it can be a friend, a sibling, parents or any other family member.
If you’re not comfortable talking to your loved ones about your problems, you can always seek help from a professional at BetterHelp. Talking to someone about how you feel can be exceptionally healing for you.
Take Care of Your Sleep
Your sleep can affect your stress level in ways you cannot imagine. Sleep deprivation and stress go hand in hand; therefore, it is something that needs to be taken care of right away. According to science, your body needs six to eight hours of sleep in order to function effectively, and the best time to sleep is between 11 PM to 7-8 AM.
Thus, you need to ensure sleeping in the night and working by the day, the more you take care of your sleep schedule; the more manageable stress would become for you.
Follow the simple steps written above and fight your stress like a champ.
About the Author
Jack is a psychotherapist and neurodegenerative disorders’ expert. He has been practicing in New York for 25 years now, and since then he has been fighting to make marijuana legal in the United States for it comes with numerous health benefits. You can read his blogs at https://thegreenace.ca/category/the-green-ace-blog/.
