Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health problem in America, as over a whopping 40 million adults suffer from the condition. In between the doom and gloom in the news and wondering how they can pay their bills, to going to the mall hoping they won’t need to use breathing exercises, anxiety can wreak havoc and steal people’s joy.
With that information, it is safe to say that plenty of people would like to find ways to manage this, as it can have a significant negative impact on their lives.
This piece is going to take a look at some top tips for improving anxiety, so you can see if any of them might be for you.
Let’s get into it.
Speak to Your Doctor
For those with anxiety, the thought of speaking to a doctor (and paying for it) can definitely make it worse, but if you have the means, then speaking to a professional could really help. There are medication and therapy options (both can work well in conjunction with each other), but you also might find there could be an underlying health condition that is contributing to your mental health, such as thyroid issues or vitamin deficiencies.
Cut Out Alcohol
Alcohol can feel like a double-edged sword when it comes to anxiety. Many use it for what is known as “Dutch courage”, as alcohol can help people relax and take some of their worries away. It does this by suppressing your central nervous system and the processes in your brain – which, if you are experiencing anxiety or worry, can sound very enticing! However, on the other hand, once you have too much alcohol, the alcohol has worn off, or even while you are drinking alcohol (a bit of a lucky dip here), your symptoms can actually get worse instead of improving.
You then might find that the anxiety you experienced is much worse, and it is a wait-and-see process before your body goes back to base level.
Get A Pet
Pets are an excellent way to help reduce anxiety and provide companionship, and interacting with them can help bring our cortisol (stress) levels down and help you to feel more relaxed!
That being said, it is important that you get the right pet for you, as choosing a pet that does not fit in with your lifestyle could actually cause more stress. Do your research to find out which pet you believe is suitable for you, and then make sure to register with your local vets in Utah. Having a pet is a significant responsibility when their livelihood is up to you, but it can also be extremely rewarding.
Exercise
Exercise is one of the best things you can do to reduce your stress and anxiety levels, and the best thing is you can choose whatever medium you enjoy! This could be dancing, walking, or trying something like acrobatics! That being said, slow paced exercise is usually best for anxiety so as not to spike cortisol levels too high.
