Try these tips the next time you experience anxiety. They might prevent it from getting out of control.
I received products from FabCBD try and I decided to include them in this post.
I think most of us are familiar with the term anxiety. Over the years, I have heard many friends talk about having anxiety attacks and I never fully understood what they were going through. Then the year 2020 arrived and the dreadful Covid-19 pandemic followed by an election that left us with even more uncertainty. The year 2020 is a year that I think most of us would like to see be over. This virus pandemic is taking a toll on everyone, both physically and mentally. I never knew what having anxiety felt like until now.
I am sure that I experienced anxiety before now, as some anxiety is a normal part of life but it just never affected me to the point that I have had to seek out treatments to help me cope. It seems that lately, I am experiencing anxiety more than a couple times a week and at times it seems to be interfering with many things in my life like being able to think or get things done. Sometimes anxiety makes me feel out of control and other times anxiety makes me want to do nothing. I have had to learn how to recognize that I was experiencing anxiety. Thankfully I have learned some coping mechanisms to help me get through an episode of anxiety and I want to share what works for me.
What is anxiety?
Anxiety is the mind and body's reaction to stressful, dangerous, or unfamiliar situations. It's the sense of uneasiness, distress, or dread you feel before a significant event. A certain level of anxiety helps us stay alert and aware, but for those suffering from an anxiety disorder, it feels far from normal - it can be completely debilitating.
Anxiety isn’t a bad thing. Some anxiety is a good thing as it can help us stay safe and help us realized that we need to get things done. It is when anxiety becomes a daily struggle and it starts controlling us to the point that we can not function. When anxiety gets out of control it becomes an anxiety disorder that may need medical help. So these tips are not meant to be medical advice but rather what has worked for me to get my anxiety under control.
Right now my anxiety is treatable with natural simple things and for the most part, they are helping me gain control so I can nip it in the bud and not let anxiety make me worry or feel hopeless. These tips help me gain control so I can move forward with my day.
11 things to help you cope with anxiety
1. Get Moving
I like to start my day with exercise as it helps me get my thoughts in order. I used to only be a morning fitness person in the summer, to avoid exercising in the heat but I decided last year to continue morning exercise through the winter. I discovered that morning exercise helps with my mind and with my morning anxiety. A good run or bike ride gets the stress out of my body and leaves me feeling in control of my day. Morning exercise even helps with seasonal depression. The sunshine does wonders for my mood.
If I start experiencing anxiety during the day, I get up and move, as even 5 minutes of marching in place helps calm me down. Sometimes even walking around the house helps me to be able to stop the anxiety gets my mind in better focus. I find that moving gets the anxious feelings out of my body and mind. When I feel like screaming, I instead do some marching and air boxing.
2. Stop and Breathe
When I start having overwhelming out of control feelings with I am doing my work tasks, I take a couple deep breaths. To help me breathe deep, I like to smell something pleasant to help me take the deep breaths that I need to calm down. So I grab my favorite hand lavender lotion and rub some into my hands. Then I place my hands near my nose and inhale the scent. Other items that work for scents are smelling my clothes or a cup of coffee. Even my CBD Salve has a nice calming scent that I enjoy. The scent of freshly washed sheets helps me calm down at bedtime.
3. Aromatherapy
Using natural aromatherapy is another way to ease anxiety or stress. Certain essential oils are known to help with anxiety, like bergamot, lavender, clary sage, grapefruit, and ylang-ylang. I prefer using citrus or peppermint essential oils. I have an oil diffuser in my office that I use daily but I also have some essential oil roll-on oils that I can quickly smell to help with my stress. I only use natural scents as toxic chemical fragrances bother me and aggravate my asthma. Scents are powerful for relaxation.
Why I Choose To Ban Toxic Chemicals In My Life
4. Listen To Music
Music has the power to change one's mood. A happy upbeat song is all I need to feel energized when I exercise but when I am feeling stressed, I prefer a slower song without any vocals. I find that I can focus better especially when I am writing when I listen to music.
5. Use CBD or Hemp
CBD oil can help the body with stress and anxiety by calming the body and that can help with one's mood. I am a huge fan of CBD oil and have been using it for several years. A delicious CBD chew or a dose of a delicious citrus CBD oil is a treat that calms my mind from everyday stress. CBD is a natural supplement that works with your body's receptors to bring calmness and a feeling of happiness. CBD does not alter the mind and is not habit-forming.
6. Ditch Caffeine
If you have chronic anxiety, caffeine is not your friend. Caffeine may cause nervousness and jitters, neither of which is good if you’re anxious. Research has shown caffeine may cause or worsen anxiety disorders. It may also cause panic attacks in people with panic disorder. In some people, eliminating caffeine may significantly improve anxiety symptoms. Ditching coffee can be hard but there are coffee substitutes that taste like real coffee. I discovered a healthy zero-caffeine coffee drink that has the taste and body of real coffee.
7. Drink Coffee
For some people, caffeine can have the opposite effect on anxiety. A cup of coffee helps my mind relax and does not really give me that energy kick. If I drink more than one cup of coffee, then I may start to feel hyper. So I allow myself one cup of coffee in the morning and another in the afternoon and this helps my mind calm down. Coffee still gives me problems with sleep so I have to stop all caffeine sources by 3PM or I will not be able to sleep. My favorite way to enjoy coffee is a Whipped Dalgona Coffee drink.
8. Get Sleep
Insomnia is a common symptom of anxiety. Make sleep a priority and try to get 6-8 hours of sleep every night. I know that sleep may not always come easy but trying these 12 sleep tips may help you get the zzzs that your body needs to function better. I also use CBD oil most nights to help me fall asleep. I am that person who has a hard time shutting off my brain and just 10 mg of CBD is all I need to get my mind to calm down and relax. A fruit-flavored CBD Chew is my bedtime treat for sleep therapy. CBD is not habit-forming and helps the body relax without any side effects like weird dreams or grogginess. When I use CBD for sleep, I never have any trouble waking up the next day but rather I feel well-rested.
9. Eat Healthy Food
Your body functions better when it has proper nutrition. Research has shown that chemicals in processed foods such as artificial flavorings, artificial colorings, and preservatives may cause mood changes in some people. Even not eating may affect your mood as low blood sugar can cause anxiety. Being dehydrated can also affect our stress levels. So stay hydrated, eliminate processed foods, and eat a healthy diet rich in complex carbohydrates, fruits and vegetables, and lean proteins. Sometimes a healthy snack can help when you have feelings of anxiety.
I totally understand that eating healthy food can be hard for some as your taste buds crave certain foods. So instead of focusing on eliminating foods or going on a diet, try adding a superfood green supplement to your day. Giving your body the nutrition that it needs may help your anxiety and that may lead your body to desire other healthy foods.
My favorite and easy way to get a powerhouse of nutrients into my body is with a delicious chocolate drink. I add a yummy Cocoa Crisp superfood supplement to my daily protein smoothie, This unique blend has 80+ key micro-nutrients from organic fruits and veggies along with other health supplements like probiotics, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and so much more. This superfood blend is Vegan, Gluten-Free, KETO Friendly, NON-GMO, Dairy-Free, and Soy Free. If chocolate is not your thing then this amazing superfood supplement also comes in Citrus Mojito.
10. Pray
I am a firm believer in the power of prayer. I pray several times a day. I always start my day asking God to help me to manage my anxiety. Then I listen to worship music as I am running which leads me to do some more praying. I also end my day with a conversation with God while I am in bed as that helps me to relax and fall asleep.
11. Call A Friend
When you are feeling stressed, pick up the phone and talk to a friend. I have a friend who suffers daily from anxiety and she tends to worry about the simplest things. This friend knows that she can call me anytime she needs to. When she calls me she is on the verge of tears but by the end of our call, my friend is feeling better. I simply just listen to her talk and then I try to get her to talk about things that bring her joy.
If you’re feeling anxious, trying the above ideas may help calm you down. Sometimes our anxiety may be caused by things that are out of our control or these remedies may not help 100%. If you need professional help or medication, then seek these things out. There is nothing wrong with seeking help and you are not a failure if you do so. When I was a kid, I suffered from depression after I lost my brother to an accident. It was prescription medicines and therapists that helped me get through this deep time in my life. So if you can't cope with your anxiety, reach out for help.
As you can see from my article, I mentioned plenty of CBD products as from my personal experience, I have experienced many health benefits from hemp products. I personally use CBD oil for sleep, pain management, and even anxiety. If you have never tried CBD or hemp products and are curious about them, then give them a try. CBD comes from a plant and is natural. You don't have to worry about getting high as CBD oil contains no THC. The products that I mentioned are made from organically grown, lab-tested, Colorado hemp. FabCBD even offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. Right now FabCBD is having a holiday sale. Use promo code SANTA25 to save 25% off your order. This is a good sale and it is the perfect opportunity to try CBD to see if it can help with your anxiety.