Most people experience stress and anxiety from time to time. Stress is any demand placed on your brain or physical body. People can report feeling stressed when multiple competing demands are placed on them. The feeling of being stressed can be triggered by an event that makes you feel frustrated or nervous. Anxiety is a feeling of fear, worry, or unease. It can be a reaction to stress, or it can occur in people who are unable to identify significant stressors in their life.
Stress and anxiety are not always bad. Sometimes they help in everyday activities. People who have stress and anxiety over long periods of time may experience negative related health outcomes. They are more likely to develop heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and may even develop depression and panic disorder.
Simple Ways to Relieve Stress and Anxiety
- Exercise is one of the most important things you can do to combat stress.
- Consider supplements. Several supplements promote stress and anxiety reduction. Ashwagandha: Ashwagandha is an herb used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat stress and anxiety.
- Light a candle. Using essential oils or burning a scented candle may help reduce your feelings of stress and anxiety.
- Reduce your caffeine intake. Caffeine is a stimulant found in coffee, tea, chocolate, and energy drinks. People have different thresholds for how much caffeine they can tolerate.
- Write it down. One way to handle stress is to write things down.
- Chew gum. For a super easy and quick stress reliever, try chewing a stick of gum.
- Spend time with friends and family. Social support from friends and family can help you get through stressful times.
- Laugh. It’s hard to feel anxious when you’re laughing. Relieving your stress response. Relieving tension by relaxing your muscles.
- Learn to say no. Not all stressors are within your control, but some are.
- Learn to avoid procrastination. Another way to take control of your stress is to stay on top of your priorities and stop procrastinating.
- Take a yoga class. Yoga has become a popular method of stress relief and exercise among all age groups.
- Practice mindfulness. Mindfulness describes practices that anchor you to the present moment. It can help combat the anxiety-inducing effects of negative thinking.
- Cuddle. Positive physical contact can help release oxytocin and lower cortisol. This can help lower blood pressure and heart rate, both of which are physical symptoms of stress.
- Listen to soothing music. Listening to music can have a very relaxing effect on the body.
- Deep breathing. Mental stress activates your sympathetic nervous system, signaling your body to go into “fight-or-flight” mode.
- Spend time with your pet. Having a pet may help reduce stress and improve your mood.
