Stress and anxiety is something that can affect us all. It is part of a natural reaction to things that happen in our lives.
Stress and anxiety are both reactions that are designed to keep us alert for danger. They serve a useful and healthy purpose, which is designed to protect us.
When we perceive danger, our bodies will create hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol. These are designed to make us spark us into a reaction. In natural circumstances, these hormones would naturally drop when we’re out of harm’s way.
The problem emerges when we start producing these hormones when they are not helpful. This overproduction can lead to some very uncomfortable feelings. You may feel worried or on edge. You may also feel irritable.
Stress and anxiety can be managed through medication. However, there are other self-care techniques that you can apply to reduce your stress levels.
Here’s how you can use self-care to reduce your stress and anxiety:
Breathing Techniques
One of the most common ways of dealing with the effects of stress and anxiety is to use deep breathing techniques.
When you start to feel particularly anxious, slowly breathe in over a count of 4 seconds. Then hold your breath for 5 seconds. Finally, breathe out slowly over the count of 6 seconds.
Keep repeating this. Count in your mind as you breathe in and out, and focus on your breath.
Breathing techniques such as this will help to calm you. It will lower the stress in your body and help you think in a more relaxed way.
Meditation
If you experience jumbled thoughts, your mind can become cluttered. You may find it hard to focus on specific things that you need to do, and it may affect your concentration.
Meditation is a way of clearing your mind of all of the clutter so that you can think with clarity.
There are many different types of meditation. Guided meditation, transcendental meditation, and mindful meditation are all common.
Mindful meditation is about being present with your thoughts. You can do this anywhere and at any time.
Transcendental meditation takes a considerable amount of practice. The idea is that you find a profound state of relaxation.
Guided meditation will be led by someone talking to you.
All types of meditation take time to get used to them. If it doesn’t work the first time, keep trying.
Regular Exercise
One of the best ways of reducing your stress levels and managing your anxiety is by exercising often.
Pick a form of exercise that you feel comfortable doing. This could be walking, running, swimming, working out at the gym, or playing a sport.
Get into a good habit of getting exercise often.
CBD
Derived from the cannabis plant, CBD has all of the properties of cannabis that make you feel very relaxed, without any of the psychoactive elements such as THC that cause the drug’s high.
CBD comes in many forms. You could take it as an oil, placing a few drops under your tongue. It can be vaped, or you could get CBD Isolate Powder, which can be taken in many ways.
CBD is safe to use whenever you need it. It is not addictive, and you can use it as much as you need in one day. There are different strengths of CBD on the market, make sure that you use the strength of CBD that works for you.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness is the practice of feeling completely present at any given moment, whatever you are doing.
In addition to helping to lower your stress and anxiety levels, it can be useful for helping you to become more focused and concentrate better on whatever task you need completing.
Meditation, body scanning, coloring in, and completing puzzles are all very good ways of including mindfulness in your daily self-care routine.
Talking Therapies
If you’re experiencing stress or anxiety, then you can get help from a therapist or a counselor. There are many different types of therapist. When choosing a therapist, make sure that you ask what type of support they are able to offer. Find a specific therapist that is able to help you with your specific needs.
There are several types of talking therapy. People will have a varying rate of success with this type of therapy. Some people will take to it and get a lot from opening up, whereas others may find it harder to express themselves. Everyone is different.
If you’d prefer, you may want to look at online therapy. This offers greater convenience for some/
