Health secrets to help keep your anxiety at bay
- by Brittney Redstone
- Sep 19, 2017
- 3 min read
For those who have to battle anxiety on a daily basis, here are some useful tips on how to manage your symptoms with just a few simple lifestyle tweaks.
If you have ever had that heat wave creep down from your neck into your spine, that cold sweat developing in the palms of your hands, and that oh-so-familiar feeling of your heart rate beginning to pick up momentum in your chest, then you probably have suffered from anxiety.
Studies show that anxiety disorders affect around 40 million Americans ranging from ages 18 to 54. That is approximately 18 percent of the country. Although, there are numerous treatment options for those suffering from anxiety, only about 36 percent of people actually reach out for help. Anxiety medications have had a negative connotation for so many years, however, for those who see positive results, they claim to lead a life as a better version of themselves.
New scientific studies and natural remedies have been taking the internet by storm when it comes to dealing with anxiety. One of them is as easy as incorporating more of a single, specific food group! Are you ready?
Carbohydrates.
Okay, now before you go into a full-fledge panic attack and begin telling me about all of the terrible things that this monster named “Carbs” will do to your girlish figure, just hear me out. The first thought that comes to the mind of society when talking carbohydrates is weight-gain. The majority of the trendiest, celebrity-tested, quick weight-loss secrets have incorporated high-protein, low-carb meals. And for many, the results are incredible! Here’s the downside: Proteins are amino acids, amino acids are the foundation of muscle, skin and bone— (wait for it)—amino acids are also the building block for neurotransmitters. (There it is.)
Animal and human tested experiments have demonstrated that when fed high protein meals, the body begins to show signs of increased stress levels. Instead, we should be focusing on eating whole, unrefined, complex carbs such as sweet potatoes, whole grains, fruits and vegetables. (Not as scary as you thought, right?)
Another way to decrease anxiety levels, according to recent Amazon sales, are essential oils. Essential oils are a physical, complex mixture of chemicals that are oftentimes plant-based. You can likely find essential oils in most common grocery stores, nowadays.
Some people like to place the oils directly onto the skin, while others choose to fill their homes with the calming scents using an oil diffuser. The limbic system receives a message from the brain once the essential oil enters the body, and tells it to relax. The most popular essential oils to help reduce anxiety are lavender, rose, bergamot, and chamomile. If yoga works for you and your anxiety, try it while the fragrance of lavender creates barrier around your mind and body.
As much as we don't want to face the facts, limiting alcohol and caffeine from our diets can have a tremendous impact on curbing panic attacks. Caffeine, being a stimulant, will obviously lead to a pickup in heart rate, and cause the brain to begin shooting off neurotransmitters. This feeling is frequently misinterpreted as “waking up your body.” Unfortunately, for those with anxiety, this can send shock waves through the nervous system.
If you’ve ever had a stressful day, week or month at work, you may have allowed yourself to sip on a glass of wine after dinner, or shared a happy-hour cocktail with your friends. At the time, it seems like a wonderful way to unwind from the stresses you’ve had to deal with. (False.) Longterm use of alcohol can actually have an adverse effect on the brain, especially if one becomes dependent on it. Alcohol produces a change in serotonin levels, which, commonly makes you feel wonderful in the moment. But after the alcohol is released from your system, you are at risk for alcohol-induced anxiety. These symptoms can include increased heart rate, depression and racing thoughts, and can last up to an entire day after drinking. (Is it worth it?)
There are a large group of us who suffer from one form of anxiety or another and the fact if the matter is, we are all in this together. Find what works for you and share it with the world in order to help our fellow-anxious humans live a more relaxing, successful, panic-free life.
Photos: Getty Images
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