There’s no question we’re in the midst of a worldwide anxiety epidemic. According to the World Health Organization, 1 in 13 people globally suffer from anxiety. In the U.S. alone, nearly 40 million people experience an anxiety disorder in a given year. Of those 40 million, approximately two-thirds are women and 8% are children and teenagers. So it comes as no surprise that many of those struggling with anxiety are looking for support and treatment including how to reduce anxiety naturally.
Everyone experiences stress and anxiety at some point in life, but for too many people, it’s becoming the norm. And scary fact: stress and anxiety can be deadly if they’re not addressed.
If you grapple with anxiety, you may be wondering: What’s the best way to manage my anxiety? Is medication the only option? Are there ways to naturally reduce anxiety?
Fortunately, there’s an entire arsenal of ways you can manage and reduce stress and anxiety. Today, we’ll be diving deeper into the multi-layered topic of anxiety, what your anxiety could be telling you, and arming you with some techniques and support options for the next time it rears its ugly head.
But first, let’s talk a bit about what anxiety is, and some of the ways anxiety manifests in the body.
What is Anxiety?
In simple terms, anxiety is how your body reacts to stress, and it can present with both physical and psychological features. The feeling of anxiety is thought to originate in the amygdala part of the brain that controls many intense emotional responses.
Anxiety is your normal, built-in, biological mechanism to your body on high alert and prepares you to fight a perceived crisis. However, if it becomes chronic, anxiety can become detrimental and can damage both your mental and physical health.
Furthermore, anxiety has been associated with several chronic diseases, like heart disease, some gastrointestinal conditions, and chronic respiratory disorders. According to a Harvard Medical School article, for people with these conditions who also have untreated anxiety, the condition itself has shown to be more difficult to treat, physical symptoms tend to worsen, and in some cases, they die sooner.
Common Stressors Linked To Anxiety
Anxiety triggers can, of course, be very individualized. But generally speaking, these are some of the most common stressors linked to anxiety:
• Moving
• Starting a new job or changing schools
• College preparation
• Job dissatisfaction, overwhelm, or misalignment
• Toxic workplace relationships
• Traumatic family relationships
• Financial insecurity
• Having an injury or illness
• Having a friend or family member who is injured or ill
• The death of a family member or friend
• Getting married or going through a divorce
• Having a baby
For people suffering from an anxiety disorder, however, they may feel intense, persistent, excessive anxiety, worry, fear, or other upsetting emotions as a result of everyday situations, which results in frequent panic attacks. For these individuals, it is best to be evaluated by a professional to determine if medical treatment is needed.
How To Reduce Stress and Anxiety
Stress and anxiety can often be helped with a combination of natural remedies, including diet, exercise, rest, mindfulness, and self-care. Some natural remedies for anxiety we recommend include:
- Exercising
- Spending time outside
- Gardening
- Meditating
- Doing yoga
- Practicing deep breathing
- Acupuncture
- Aromatherapy
- Massage
- Getting enough sleep
- Limiting alcohol and caffeine intake
- Spending time planning and prioritizing
- Connecting with others
- Seeking the support of a Health Coach, therapist, or counselor