Have you ever experienced anxiety that drains all of your productive energy?
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States, affecting 40 million adults in the US each year.
If you’re someone who suffers from anxiety, you know that it can be incredibly debilitating. It can hold you back from some positive experiences and opportunities as a result.
The good news is that there are ways to overcome it!
In this blog post, we will discuss seven best tips for overcoming anxiety, from an expert that has been there themselves!
7 Best Tips For Overcoming Anxiety
I. Talk to a Professional.
One of the most important tips we can give you to get started is talking to a professional.
If your life experiences start to become limited as a result of your anxiety and you feel like you’re stuck, this is a very important time to speak to a professional.
A mental health professional will be able to help you understand the root causes of your anxiety, and as a result, give you the tools you need to properly manage your anxiety.
II. Identify Your Anxiety Triggers.
Triggers are things that can cause an anxiety attack.
They vary from person to person, but common triggers include caffeine, alcohol, stress, and certain foods that don’t sit well in our bodies.
Identifying your triggers is an important step in managing and understanding your anxiety.
Once you know what sets you off, you can start working on avoiding or managing those triggers.
III. A Strong Sleep Routine.
One of the best ways to overcome anxiety is to create and stick to a sleep routine.
Here are some tips you can utilize for a proper sleep routine:
- Go to bed and wake up at the same time each day.
- Limit caffeine 4-10 hours before bed. This depends on your sensitivity to caffeine.
- Limit technology 1-2 hours before bed.
- Make your room nice and cool.
- Make the room as dark as possible.
It may be hard to do at first, but in time, this will help you regulate your mood and reduce anxiety.
Lastly, if you need an extra kick for a great night’s rest, you should try out Drift Sleep Aid Drink Mix from Reforged. It is a three phase sleep supplement that helps you find calmness before bed, helps you sleep through the night, and helps you wake up refreshed.
It tastes like peach tea too!
IV. Get Yourself A Weighted Blanket.
A weighted blanket can be a great tool for managing anxiety.
It provides a sense of grounding and comfort, which can help to reduce feelings of anxiety.
One weighted blanket we highly recommend is Neuu Living’s Cooling 15lb Weighted Blanket.
What’s really nice about it is there are air spaces in the blanket that allow for air flow. This means this blanket is not only weighted: it keeps you cool in the evening.
V. Avoid Caffeine And Alcohol.
Caffeine and alcohol can be stressors on your body that can trigger anxiety and make it worse.
If you’re struggling with anxiety, it’s best to limit or avoid them altogether.
When it comes to caffeine, we recommend limiting it to a small amount to about 200-400mg per day (or ~3-5 cups of coffee). We also recommend that you stop drinking caffeine 4-10 hours before bed.
With alcohol, we recommend doing your best to avoid it completely. If you do have the occasional drink, work towards limiting it to once per week.
VI. Exercise Regularly.
There is a strong correlation between a sedentary lifestyle and mental health challenges like anxiety and depression.
So let’s get active!
Exercise is a great way to reduce stress and improve your mental health.
It can also help you sleep better, which as you know, can help with anxiety as well.
If you incorporate around 10-20 minutes per day of some form of physical activity, you should see noticeable improvements.
Research supports that 2 ½ to 4 hours of weekly moderate-intensity physical activity can help with anxiety and depression.
Moderate-intensity can be lifting weights, jogging, walking uphill, swimming, etc.
VII. Eat A Healthy Diet
Eating a healthy diet consisting of whole foods is so important for overall well being.
It can even help us better manage stressful situations.
Research supports that a diet of more whole foods than processed ones can have a large impact on our mood and well-being.
Some tips we recommend are the following:
- Eat a few servings of fruits or vegetables everyday.
- Eat a diet high in Omega-3’s. These fatty acids are anti-inflammatory and have been shown to help with anxiety.
- Eat lean protein everyday. Protein contains amino acids that help our body produce neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin. These can play a role in brain development.
Conquer Your Anxiety
One final recommendation I will give you is to implement these practices slowly.
As you consistently follow these practices, you will notice improvements in your mood and well-being.
And when the anxiety strikes, you’ll know exactly what to do.
I want to thank you all for reading this post.
