Suffer From Anxiety? Actions You Should Take Right Now

It’s impossible to control all aspects of anxiety–it comes and it goes. Everything can seemingly be going right in your life but for some reason you’re fearful, you can’t relax, and your mind is going at full speed, a mile a minute. What’s worse, it can keep you from sleeping, making the problem even more difficult.

Extreme anxiety is something that you should discuss with your doctor but if you’re plagued with a heavy mind from time to time, take these steps to get back in the swing of things. Recognize anxiety and take control.

Stop drinking coffee

Coffee or any sort of caffeine in tea, energy drinks, soda, or even chocolate increases anxiety. During anxious periods, it also increases irritability, makes you jittery, and keeps you from sleep. You don’t have to give it up forever, but if you’re dealing with an anxious period, lay off of it for a bit.

Cut out the sugar

Excessive added sugar can also send our emotions on a roller coaster ride. If you’re going through an emotional period, cut out the candy, ice cream, cookies, cakes, and other sugary snacks.

Cut out the booze

Alcohol can do a number on your nervous system. According to Soberistas founder Lucy Rocca, alcohol disrupts the central nervous system, causing a lack of concentration, drop in blood sugar, changes in serotonin levels, mood swings, and an increased heart rate. If you have anxiety, alcohol and drugs are the worst thing for it.

Turn off the news

The news and television in general can make you feel ill at ease. The news rarely reports on the good stuff–rather, it makes us feel like we’re surviving in a world of fire and brim stone. Turn it off, it only makes your perspective more negative.

Go for a jog

Researchers at Princeton found that the brains of rats who exercise responded differently to anxiety than the brains of slothful rats. Not only does exercise stimulate the creation of new brain cells, they seem to function differently than the old ones.

Consider yoga

Of 35 trials at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center, 25 noted significant decreases in stress and anxiety after adding in a yoga regimen. A combination of mindfulness breathing and focused attention help to slow the wandering mind. Consider adding yoga in at least a few times per week.

Learn to be the observer

Our thoughts are a part of us, but they’re not all of us. That’s why when you’re meditating you can watch your thoughts but you can’t watch yourself. When you’re having an anxious attack of emotions, begin to watch your thoughts as if they were a movie. Don’t be afraid of them. Just close your eyes and pretend you’re eating popcorn and watching the ridiculous drama going on in your mind.

Source: Discovery Fit & Health

R.Sawas