Living with anxiety can be very difficult. What may begin as a little more stress than usual can quickly turn into full-blown anxiety that leaves you suffering from crippling panic attacks or constantly feeling stressed and worried, even for no apparent reason. Although there are many pills which you could get from your doctor to help you with anxiety, there are other, more natural methods of getting back in control. We’ve listed some of the best alternatives to medication for managing anxiety.
#1. Medical Marijuana:
If you are located in an area where you can access it legally, medical marijuana is becoming more and more popular for dealing with anxiety problems. Taking marijuana can help you to relax and wind down and can be very helpful for dealing with sleep problems that often come hand-in-hand with anxiety. If you’re worried about the effects of smoking marijuana, or the possibility of feeling paranoid when high, then CBD oil could be a good alternative as it does not cause a head high, unlike THC, the other active ingredient in the cannabis plant. Check out Cope CBD for a wide range of products that could be suited to your needs.
#2. Mindfulness Meditation:
Practicing mindfulness meditation is quickly becoming one of the most popular ways to effectively deal with mental health problems such as anxiety by yourself. Thanks to the hundreds of free guided meditation videos tutorials available on YouTube, for example, you can easily become a meditation master from the comfort of your own home. Meditation encourages you to take back control of your stressful thoughts, feelings and emotions to feel more relaxed and confident.
#3. A Healthy Diet:
Did you know that the foods you eat will affect your mental health as well as your body? Without the right nutrition as fuel, your brain will also find it difficult to function in a healthy manner. Eating healthily, for example switching unhealthy snacks to fruit and vegetables, eating plenty of protein in your diet, and only allowing yourself to eat junk food as an occasional treat isn’t just good for improving your figure – it’ll also help you to clear your mind and relieve your stress levels. Additionally, don’t forget to ensure that you stay hydrated by drinking 6-8 glasses of water each day.
#4. Talking Therapy:
It can be very difficult for people who suffer from anxiety problems to deal with them successfully alone. Often, being able to get a fresh perspective from somebody else can be very useful in helping you to see your issues in a new light and determine the best way to deal with them effectively. Talking therapies such as CBT are excellent for learning new ways to cope with and control your anxiety problems.
#5. Physical Exercise:
Exercising releases ‘feel good’ hormones, helping to reduce stress, improve your mood, and help you to relax. So, although you might not feel like going for a run when you’re stressing out, it can actually be the best thing for you! Even getting out for a short walk when your anxiety is getting too much will help to clear your mind.
If you found these suggestions helpful, we’d love to hear from you.