Don’t get me wrong, it is normal to get anxious from time to time. Everyday, we can be met with different kinds of stressful situations, or even people that lead us to feelings of anxiety. However, what is not normal is feeling anxious all the time! Anxiety does not have to be an ongoing issue. If you have found yourself feeling more and more anxious about everything from the littlest thing, to matters than are way beyond your control, then you need to do something about this condition! Feeling anxious all the time come with physical symptoms. Among them are:
• Heart palpitations
• Sense of impending doom
• Sweating
• Hyperventilation
• Chest pains
• Nausea
• Dry mouth
• Insomnia
• Loss of sex drive
• Over or under eating
As you may have already experienced based on short bouts of anxiety, its symptoms really do take a toll on you. What more if you were to experience these all the time?! Surely, feeling anxious is bound to drain you physically, mentally and emotionally!
If you find yourself feeling anxious every once in a while, a quick fix can be to pop in a pill, or take a shot from the doctor. However, for obvious reasons, it is not advisable to take medication or get shots for long periods of time. Think of the possible side effects that this could give you. For this reason, I highly encourage those that suffer from anxiety to look for relief using natural methods. Herbal, and even alternative remedies of anxiety may work in calming you down without the potentially harmful side effects.
Here are a few natural remedies you should try:
1. Almonds- Take about 10 almonds and soak them in water overnight. Peel off skins, and put in a blender along with a cup of warm milk, a pinch of ginger and a pinch of nutmeg. Drink this soothing mix at night, preferably before going to bed. This almond drink will help relax you.
2. Baking soda bath- baths are already great to relax you, but if you want to go the extra mile, take about 1/3 cup of baking soda along with 1/3 cup of ginger and place in in your bath. Soak in this mix for at least 15 minutes. This should do the trick in relieving tension and anxiety.
3. Oil- Try rubbing either warm sesame oil, coconut oil, corn oil or sunflower oil all over your body, including your scalp up to the bottoms of your feet. If possible, have someone give you a massage using these oils. If not, then take a small rolling pin and soothe your anxiety away!
4. Up your celery intake- celery is rich in potassium and folic acid, minerals that help to “fight off” nervousness. Make sure that you have at least 2 cups of celery in a week.
5. Orange- many claim that the scent of an orange is effective in reducing anxiety. Take an orange, peel it and inhale. Another option would be to take the peel and drop it in a potpourri burner or hot pan. Place a bit of water and let the peel simmer. You’ll soon smell it’s wonderful aroma wafting out.
6. Rosemary- No matter what form you choose to take it, rosemary has a calming effect. The quickest way to use it would be to take a fresh sprig and inhale. You can also take its leaves and steep them in boiling water, creating rosemary tea. Inhale the scent before drinking the tea. You may also want to try burning rosemary incense.
7. Meditation or prayer- take a few moments out of everyday to slow down and calm yourself down. Use this time to reflect on everything that is going on around you. While doing this, do not forget to breathe or relax. A few minutes of meditation or prayer does wonders to an anxious mind.
8. Breathe- sometimes we get so stressed that we forget to breathe. Breathing allows our bodies to find its center again. When feeling anxious, take a minute to just concentrate on breathing deeply, in and out.
9. Find a fun and non-competitive exercise that you enjoy- A great way to release anxiety is through exercise. However, if you choose to indulge in something competitive, then you may find yourself feeling stressed out again. Choose an exercise that you find calming , and try to find time to do this regularly.
10. Talk to a friend- Part of being anxious is having so many things to think about, but finding no release. Talking to a friend, one that will give his input, comment, or advice on the things that you are thinking about may help! Talking and vocalizing your anxiety may help relieve it.
Guest post by Sam Briones, a freelance writer and also contributes at Technovate Translations. If not writing for the language and culture subject, she’s on the keyboard writing about fashion and pop culture.
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