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4 Ways to Deal With Anxiety Without Traditional Medication

Published by Courtney Hall

Although a good number of anti-anxiety medications exist on the market, some people don’t like to use them to treat their anxiety. These drugs don’t always work consistently, and many come with side effects. That being the case, many people who suffer from anxiety look for alternative ways to deal with anxiety. Here are four examples of the types of regiments they turn to for relief.

Breathing Exercises

Something as simple as breathing can drastically change your levels of anxiety. This is due to the fact that deep breathing puts more oxygen in your blood, replacing the carbon dioxide waste that circulates through the bloodstream. When you don’t breathe properly (and deeply), the oxygen-carbon dioxide exchange becomes imbalanced. This can lead to fatigue, anxiety and even panic attacks. Doing some deep breathing exercises when you’re feeling stressed is a quick way to bring yourself back into balance.

The next time you’re feeling anxious try this simple relaxation technique:

  1. Inhale slowly and deeply through your nose. Keep your shoulders relaxed. Your abdomen should expand, and your chest should rise very little.
  2. Exhale slowly through your mouth. As you blow air out, purse your lips slightly, but keep your jaw relaxed. You may hear a soft “whooshing” sound as you exhale.
  3. Repeat this breathing exercise for several minutes. [1]

Expressive Arts

Artists have long known what science and psychology are now beginning to discover. Making art has a therapeutic effect on the maker. Painting, drawing and other art practices have a meditative quality, which puts you into the elusive “zone.” Once you hit this state of mind, your pulse rate, blood pressure and breathing take a turn for the better.

CBD or Medical Marijuana

There are some compounds that are good for anxiety. Research suggests that both cannabidiol (CBD) oil and medical marijuana can affect anxiety in a positive way. Specifically, a study conducted in 2010 suggests that CBD could reduce symptoms of social anxiety in those who suffer from anxiety disorders, because the use of CBD potentially changes blood flow in the brain.  There are, however, studies that suggest that the use of marijuana can be detrimental you your health despite some positives.

Yoga

Over the course of time, yoga has proven to be an effective treatment for depression, stress, and anxiety. Regular yoga practitioners also turn to it when they need help getting conditions like inflammation, tension and fatigue, under control. Stressors, like inflammation, when left unchecked, can also contribute to feelings of anxiety, so it becomes a vicious circle without some sort of intervention. Treating anxiety naturally allows you to be more in control of your state of mind and your life. Some alternative anti-anxiety techniques, like breathing, can be used no matter where you are. This is especially important when anxiety strikes unexpectedly.  Laura Burdick, from the Hot Room North Shore says that – “Life is too short to be stressed, out of shape, and uninspired. What are you doing today to make sure you don’t fall into any of those categories. That is right, TODAY. What are you doing TODAY? It is not about Mondays or the new year. The decisions we make each day add up to a lifetime of feeling amazing.”  If you have never experienced yoga, I’d encourage you to start today and melt anxiety and fat away!

 

While it’s good to take the advice of your doctor when it comes to treating your anxiety, it can also be helpful to try other natural remedies to support more traditional therapies. Chatting with your doctor about some alternative programs can help you develop an anti-anxiety regiment that’s right for you.

Article Sources:
[1] Cleaveland Clinic. Diaphragmatic breathing; 2018.

 

Related content: How Massage Can Help Ground Your Anxiety

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