Have you been feeling more anxious and stressed lately? You’re not alone. Anxiety disorders are one of the most common mental health issues, affecting over 40 million adults in the US.

While medication and mental health therapy in Orange County, California can help, many people are looking for natural remedies for anxiety. The good news is that there are plenty of options to try. In this article, we’ll explore ways to ease your anxiety through exercise like yoga, meditation, diet changes, and simple lifestyle adjustments. Small steps can make a big difference in reducing worry and stress. Read on to discover natural remedies that can help calm your anxiety and give you back a sense of control and inner peace.

How Does Movement Reduce Anxiety?

One of the best ways to naturally reduce anxiety is through movement. Exercise helps treat anxiety by releasing feel-good hormones called endorphins, which act as natural painkillers and mood boosters. Other effects of engaging in physical activities include:

1. 1. Stress Reduction: Regular physical activity can lower the body’s stress hormones, such as cortisol. When stress levels decrease, anxiety often follows suit. Exercise provides a healthy outlet for the body to manage and release stress, leading to a more relaxed state of mind.
   2. Distraction from Worries: Engaging in movement or exercise can act as a distraction from anxious thoughts. Focusing on the physical activity at hand helps shift the mind away from rumination and overthinking, providing temporary relief from anxiety.
   3. Improvement of Sleep: Regular physical activity can improve sleep quality. Anxiety often interferes with sleep patterns, leading to a vicious cycle where inadequate sleep worsens anxiety symptoms. Exercise can break this cycle by promoting better sleep, which, in turn, helps reduce anxiety.
   4. Enhancement of Cognitive Function: Movement can improve cognitive function and attention, making it easier to cope with stressful situations. When your mind is sharper and more focused, you may find it easier to manage anxious thoughts and emotions.
   5. Empowerment and Self-Efficacy: Successfully engaging in physical activities can boost confidence and feelings of self-efficacy. As individuals achieve their fitness goals, they may feel more capable of handling challenges in other areas of life, including anxiety-provoking situations.

Anxiety disorders in Orange County, California thrive on inactivity, so make an effort to build regular movement into your daily routine. Start with just 10 or 15 minutes a day of an activity you enjoy, and increase from there as you’re able. The more you move, the less room there is for anxiety and worry to take hold. Your mind and body will thank you.

What types and styles of Yoga help with Anxiety?

Yoga is a great way to relieve anxiety naturally. Certain poses and styles of yoga are especially helpful for calming the mind and body.

• • Hatha Yoga: Hatha yoga is a gentle and slower-paced form of yoga that focuses on basic postures and breathing exercises. It promotes relaxation, balance, and flexibility, making it an excellent choice for beginners or those seeking a calming practice.
  • Yin yoga: Focuses on long-held passive poses to target connective tissue and deeper layers of muscles. The stillness and meditative quality are very calming.Restorative yoga: Uses props like bolsters, blankets, and straps to support your body in completely relaxed positions. The props allow you to release tension without effort.
  • Iyengar yoga: Also uses many props to help you achieve perfect alignment in each pose. Holding poses longer with a focus on proper form cultivates awareness, balance, and peace of mind.
  • Vinyasa or Flow Yoga: Vinyasa yoga involves continuous movement and flowing from one pose to another, synchronizing breath with movement. This dynamic practice can help distract the mind from anxious thoughts and build mental focus.

Practicing yoga for anxiety can help retrain your body and mind to relax, release worry, and find an inner sense of calm. Adding meditation, pranayama (breathing exercises), and yoga nidra (deep relaxation) to your practice enhances the anxiety-soothing benefits.

What are the Spiritual Practices to Ease Anxiety?

Spiritual practices like meditation, yoga, and journaling can help ease anxiety in a natural way. These techniques work by calming your mind and body, reducing stressful thoughts, and increasing self-awareness and inner peace.

Meditation

Spending just a few minutes a day meditating can help decrease anxiety and negative thoughts. Focusing your attention on your breath, a mantra, or visualization helps quiet your mind and relax your body. Over time, meditation can actually change the way your brain responds to stress and anxiety.

Journaling

Journaling, or expressive writing, can be an effective way to work through anxiety and gain perspective. It can help you organize your thoughts, gain awareness of unhealthy patterns, release pent-up emotions, and move towards a calmer state of mind.

Connecting with Your Faith or Higher Power

For some, connecting to their faith or a higher power through prayer, ritual, or community provides comfort and alleviates anxiety. Speaking with a spiritual advisor or counselor can also help provide guidance on your journey to inner peace. Having a strong spiritual practice and connection to something greater than yourself can help reduce feelings of worry or lack of control.

What are the Foods and Supplements to Help Reduce Anxiety?

Anxiety can often be managed through natural remedies related to diet and lifestyle. Certain foods may help boost your mood and ease anxiety symptoms. Add more of the following to your diet:

• • Fatty fish
  • Turmeric
  • Green leafy vegetable
  • Probiotics

Some supplements may provide natural relief from anxiety symptoms.

• • Ashwagandha
  • L-theanine
  • Omega-3 fish oil
  • Valerian

Making changes to your diet and lifestyle and possibly supplementing with natural remedies can help get anxiety under control in a gentle, holistic way.

Lifestyle Changes to Decrease Anxiety

Making positive lifestyle changes can help decrease anxiety in a natural way. Try incorporating some of these habits into your daily routine:

• • Exercise Regularly
  • Practice Mindfulness
  • Limit Alcohol and Caffeine
  • Get Enough Sleep
  • Connect With Others

Be gentle with yourself and start with small steps. Over time, these new habits will become second nature. If you need help dealing with and addressing anxiety triggers, Adler Health is here to help at every stage! Contact us today!