HEALTHY MIND

HOW TO MANAGE ANXIETY

WITHOUT MEDICATION

By James Troy

Anxiety varies in severity. If you have a milder form of anxiety, you may be able to manage it without the use of medication, which negates the risk of side effects and other problems like dependency. While the drugs that treat anxiety can be effective for many, they are best used sparsely and in a limited dosage if your anxiety isn't severe. Luckily, there are a few great ways to manage anxiety without medication. AVOID STIMULANTS

One of the most important changes anyone with anxiety needs to make is to cut out the consumption of stimulants like coffee, energy drinks, cigarettes and other similar products. Stimulants like caffeine and nicotine directly increase anxiety-inducing hormones in the brain and can act to trigger anxiety attacks in susceptible people.

They also make you more prone to overreacting to negative stimuli by amplifying the strength of your body's stress response. If you suffer from regular anxiety, you should aim to avoid all use of these products whenever possible. GET ENOUGH SLEEP

Lack of sleep is another factor that can lead to increased perceptions of anxiety because it predisposes you to imbalances in neurotransmitters. Anxiolytic hormones like adrenaline and cortisol are increased in response to sleep deprivation and this can leave you susceptible to severe symptoms like a panic attack.

The negative effects of a lack of sleep on anxiety are compounded if you use caffeine to try to compensate for not sleeping enough. It's best to try to get enough sleep every night if you want to reduce symptoms of anxiety. MEDITATION

A big part of the problem of anxiety lies in your potential to start fixating on it when you experience symptoms. Meditation is a healthy and effective way to help reduce mild symptoms of anxiety without medications.

Whenever you feel like you can't stop thinking about your anxiety, try to find a quiet, calm place where you can sit and focus on other thoughts to give your mind a chance to relax. If it works for you, gentle music can often be even better to focus on instead of sitting in silence. MAGNESIUM AND MULTIVITAMIN SUPPLEMENTS

Magnesium is an incredibly important mineral that many people don't get enough of daily. If you're one of those people, a magnesium deficiency could easily be causing you to feel more anxiety than you otherwise would, because it acts to calm your body in various ways, including by acting as a muscle relaxant and by slowing a racing brain.

Magnesium can only help you if you aren't regularly getting enough. Likewise, a multivitamin supplement can be effective to keep your body and mind running smoothly if you're missing any of the necessary vitamins and minerals daily. TAKE A HOT BATH

Anything that relaxes you can help to ease mild anxiety without having to resort to medications. A hot bath is a great way to relax, but anything that absorbs your attention and focus can help. Whether that means finding a quiet place to relax, taking a walk, listening to music, or playing a video game; is dependent on who you are as a person and what helps you to relax.

Your life should never feel like it's spiraling out of control and it's important to not be afraid to seek professional help if you need it.

DON'T IGNORE SEVERE SYMPTOMS

While managing anxiety without the use of medications is ideal, it can't be the reality for everyone, unfortunately. If your anxiety is too severe to be handled comfortably with natural, healthy methods like these, or if you're going through a sudden rough patch it's important to seek the guidance of a healthcare professional for further treatment.