Natural Ways to Reduce Anxiety

Everyone experiences anxiety differently. For some people, a 5-minute meeting with a potential partner is anxiety-provoking. For others, a night full of anxiety attacks is nothing new. No matter how you experience anxiety, there are many natural ways to mitigate the symptoms and even help to decrease the level of anxiety. The best way to reduce your anxiety is to learn how to cope with anxiety in the first place. Below you will find some proven tips on how to reduce your anxiety with natural remedies.

1. Plan Your Day

Do you ever get the feeling that you’re running around aimlessly? It can be very distracting and exhausting when you’re on the move all day long! The best way to avoid this is to set a timer for 30 minutes before you go back into the office or school. During this time you can clear your head and plan out your day. If you’re in a rush, you can simply remove the timer from your diary. This is one proactive way to alleviate anxiety throughout the day.

2. Take a Break

When you are feeling especially anxious, you might even find that you cannot take a break from work or school. You might even decide to stay in bed for the afternoon and evening for the rest of the day. This is a sure-fire way to make your anxiety worse. Take a break from work, from studying and from your social life. You will feel so much better if you take some time for yourself.

3. Controlled Breathing

Deep breathing exercises are a proven way to reduce anxiety. Rather than taking a rapid and short breath in and then quickly breathing out, breathe slowly and rhythmically for 10 seconds. This slow and steady breathing will help your body and mind to relax. When you’re able to slow your breathing, your brain can more easily access the areas that it needs to be able to in order to induce relaxation. By providing a more relaxing environment, slow breathing can help reduce anxiety.

4. Go to Bed Early 

We spend the majority of our day online. Nowadays, 80% of us have an email account, a mobile device, or a social media account. This means that you are essentially tethered to your computer or phone 24/7. It can be really hard to shut off the Internet when you’re feeling stressed out or worried. The best way to stop recurring Internet anxiety attacks is to get off your phone hour before you’re ready to go to sleep. If you’re really struggling, you could try setting an alarm on your computer or mobile device to remind you to put your phone down and get some rest one hour before bed.

5. Learn a New Skill

You don’t have to be an amazing artist or musician to learn a new skill. There are many things that you can learn how to do that will make your life easier and allow you to feel more confident. You could try learning to cook, to read a novel, or to play an instrument. Many people find that learning to play an instrument or finding a new hobby help them to decompress. During the time you spend with your new hobby, you will likely find yourself feeling less anxious and worried about the rest of your life.

6. Read Something Calming

Find a hobby that you can relax into. If you’re an athlete, focus on moving your muscles rather than speaking or thinking. Read a book, watch a movie, or play a board game. The idea is to keep your mind off of what you’re reading or watching so that you can focus on the calming effects of the media. If you’re not a big reader, audiobooks might be a good alternative for you. 

7. Ask for Help

Sometimes you have to ask for help and be brave enough to reach out for help. This can sound like a strange thing to do, but it’s true. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or unable to cope with the situation, it’s important to reach out to the people in your life who have the ability to help you out. You don’t have to ask for help every time you’re in a difficult situation, but allow yourself to be open to using the resources available to you. Reach out when you need it and ask for help when you don’t know how to address the situation on your own.

Knoxville Recovery Center Can Help 

Many people first experience the negative side effects of drugs or alcohol when they are young. experimentation, and dependence can occur at any age, but the harmful effects of early drug use are significantly higher. The earlier you start using, the more damage you can prevent. If you are currently using drugs or alcohol, it is important to stop. Doing so will prevent lasting damage, save money, and improve your health.

If you or a loved one are currently struggling with an eating disorder, help is available! We encourage you to reach out to the professionals at Knoxville Recovery Center to learn more about our personalized treatment programs and mental health services. 

Knoxville Recovery Center was founded from firsthand experience of addiction and recovery, with a mission of providing a space where people can heal from addiction and other disorders in a compassionate, creative, open-minded, and heart-centered environment. We believe recovery is always possible. Our experts work with you to design a treatment plan that fits your needs. Common treatment programs include:

• Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP)
• On-site Detox
• Full-time Addiction Treatment on campus
• Mental Health Treatment
• Aftercare Services

Contact us today for more information about how our programs and services can help you get your life back on track. You no longer have to struggle with an eating disorder on your own. We are here to help.