Mind racing, can’t turn it off. So much to do, so little time. Fear of the unknown. Does this sound like you?

Anxiety happens. It can hurt or ruin our relationships, hinder our happiness, hold us back from our fullest potential in all areas of our lives. Anxiety is a stressor. Stress is related to every emotional and physical disease out there. Stress raises our cortisol which suppresses our immune system and also hinders our ability to lose weight. Not only does it hinder our ability to lose weight, we will hold onto weight in our abdomens, aka, belly fat. It also slows down our digestion, which leads to bloating and cramping and elimination problems.

Now, if you’re a worrier, you are not alone. My family calls me a “worry wart.” Sometimes life happens and sometimes decisions I’ve made have made life harder on myself, but through it all, I’ve learned ways to keep anxiety from holding me back. Through these techniques, I’ve been able to avoid the “anxiety cycle” and not let life’s lemons hold me back from being happy.

 

1. Journal. Journaling is a great way to get all our thoughts out of our head. Sometimes just getting them out of our heads without the fear of judgement is enough. Often times, getting all the negative energy out and on paper gives us the ability to get to root of the problem. Once we know what is really bothering us, have it out and unjudged, we are able to come up with solutions.
2. Talk to a Confidant. Talking it with someone. A friend, family member or a health coach can provide great support. This is often very helpful for relieving anxiety and stress. Sometimes we need to talk about the situation over and over again just to process through what is stressing us out. That’s okay. We aren’t meant to deal with life alone, we are meant for community. Let yours be there for you.
3. Gratitude. At the end of every day, write down at least 3 things you are thankful for. If you can come up with more, keep writing. The more our focus is on the positive, the less overwhelming the negative will be. When we regulate the negative, we regulate the anxiety which reduces the cortisol in our system and improves our immune system.
4. Get moving. Movement gives us endorphins. Endorphins are feel good hormones. Do whatever you enjoy, alone or with someone, depending on what you need at the time. It doesn’t have to be any one type of exercise either. Just something you enjoy. A walk, a class, a punching bag…whatever you need at the time.
5. Feel the feelings. Feelings aren’t wrong. How we express them can be but feeling them isn’t. Feel the feelings at the time so you don’t have to keep dealing with them later on. Feel angry, be angry. Want to cry, cry. Our feelings are our feelings, we need to feel them fully so we can move past them and move on.
6. Embrace natural products. There are plenty of natural products out there that can help with anxiety, from CBD (if this piques your interest, you can learn more at Remedy Review) to herbal tinctures and remedies. Many people stay away from natural products because they may not have natural products on the ingredients, but finding one natural product that works for you could be all you need to vastly reduce your anxiety levels. 

Live Healthy and Whole,

Marian