Learn how to handle your stress.
Everybody runs into bouts of anxiety or stress from time to time. You might think that the best possible remedy is a vacation in Tahiti or some other way to escape reality. But there are some cures for anxiety that you might not have thought of but should try.
Bath with Lavender
Warm water is one of our body’s most favorite soothing things. It’s quite pleasant and can ease out tension quite well. Adding lavender oil to your bath has a unique calming way about it to help you ease your anxiety. Dried lavender flowers will work wonders for you, as well. It’s a bit of a mystery as to what it is about lavender that soothes our senses and emotions, but people have been using the flower for more than 2,000 years as a relaxant.
Deep Breaths
Breathing in nice, slow, deep breaths are shown to control stress. To do this most effectively take a seat in a chair, place your hands on your stomach and breathe in slowly. You want your stomach to expand as far as possible. Hold that breath for a few seconds then exhale gently. Do this several times until you feel better.
Milk
If you drink a glass of warm milk, you will feel better. Pour yourself a glass of milk then slip it into your microwave for 20 seconds or on your stove for a few minutes. Milk has the ingredient of tryptophan. This is an amino acid that creates serotonin in your brain to make you feel good about life and about yourself. A glass of warm milk will ease your anxiety.
Catnip
This might sound odd. But you can purchase catnip tea bags and have a cup of catnip tea. Catnip causes cats to become hyperactive. But on humans catnip acts as a sedative and can help you relax. Heat some hot water and place a tea bag of catnip tea in your hot water for a relaxing time.
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Hops
We’re not talking about bellying up to the bar here to drink your troubles away. But hops is known as an anti-anxiety ingredient in beer. It gives beer a rather bitter taste. You should heat some hot water like you would for making tea and in a cup stir in two teaspoons of the herb. You can drink as many as three cups of this each day when you’re feeling stressed. This is one of the most effective cures for anxiety.
Watch What You Drink
An obvious answer to solving your anxiety issue might be to drink alcohol, coffee, tea, or cola. But in reality studies have found that if you are under a great deal of anxiety, you are more susceptible to feeling the negative effects of caffeine. You might also think that alcohol negates your anxiety. But once the alcohol wears off, your body actually feels more anxiety than it did prior to drinking.
Exercise
Go take a walk. Aerobic exercise is known to be a great reliever of stress, because you are releasing endorphins in your body. Endorphins are a substance in your body that will inhibit pain and make you feel good. If you’re feeling a high level of anxiety, take a nice fast-paced walk for half an hour or so.
Meditation
Your meditation can take on any of a number of activities. You might find that you enjoy working on your flowers, praying, or watching your pet hamster. Any of these activities that cause you to slow down for 15 minutes or so each day can act as a tremendous reliever of anxiety.