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Yoga
Feeling stressed? Here are 10 ways to improve your mental health. NatureFriend/ Pixabay

When faced with stressful situations like beating deadlines, taking a major examination or handling difficult emotions and conflicts, it can trigger one's anxiety or cause uncertainty. These aren't good for our mental health.

While it’s normal to feel anxious from time to time as we can’t always control everything that's happening around us, it can also get too much. This can affect how we function when doing our daily activities.

Anxiety is reportedly good in some way, as it can heighten our awareness towards dangers so we become better prepared towards such situations. However, excessive anxiety that lead to disorders are a different case.

It’s best to manage our stress and anxiety as soon as we can, so it does not escalate into negatively affecting our overall wellbeing.

If you’re looking for ways to relieve stress and anxiety, you can try natural remedies instead of the usual medication. Here’s a list of the 10 effective natural anxiety relief and remedies, which you can incorporate into your daily activities and will help relax your mind and body.

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10 Effective Natural Anxiety Relief & Remedies

1. Exercise

Gradually include an exercise routine into your daily routine. You can go on a morning run, do ab exercises or have a cardio dance workout. Just keep your body moving. This not only helps improve your physical health, but also enhances your mental health and moods as it releases endorphins which are known as “natural feel-good hormones.”

2. Meditation

Studies report that meditation is one of the simplest remedies that helps relieve anxiety symptoms. Make space in your home and start a meditation routine. Calm your mind, let go of all the negative thoughts and focus on the good things. Amidst the silence you will feel more at ease.

3. Writing/Journaling

Expressing your emotions can be a way to calm yourself from all the thoughts running in your head. Researchers recommend writing as a coping mechanism for managing stress, especially for those who aren’t comfortable in sharing their problems with other people.

Exercising
Engaging in regular exercise is also good for your physical and mental wellbeing. StockSnap/ Pixabay

4. Deep Breathing Exercises

When you’re suddenly put into an uncomfortable situation, it can increase your stress or develop into a panic attack. Try to take a moment to breathe starting slowly until you can take deep breaths. These exercises can help regulate your breathing patterns to lessen anxiety or prevent it from escalating into an attack.

5. Say Goodbye to Cigarettes and Alcohol

Cigarettes and alcohol may help you relax, but it’s more of a temporary feeling that can develop into long-term health problems. Over time you can become dependent on these, hence, may worsen your anxiety.

It’s best to avoid these vices little by little, until you completely remove it from your system. Researchers suggest that you find other activities to replace these habits with or have a support system that can guide you.

6. Switch to a Balanced Diet

“Emotional eating” is when you consume more food to deal with stress. This can lead to overindulging in unhealthy food like chips or chocolates. Too much of these not only cause health and weight problems, but can also worsen anxiety.

Manage your diet by drinking at least eight glasses of water a day and consuming food that are rich in vitamins and nutrients such as vegetables, fruits, lean proteins and carbohydrates.

Balanced Diet
It's also good for your mental health to stick to a balanced diet. RitaE/ Pixabay

7. Aromatherapy

There are studies that report aromatherapy or using essential oils can improve your mental health by boosting your mood and help you relax. If you have a diffuser at home, you can mix in some essential oils like lavender, grapefruit, bergamot or sage as these are the best scents to help lessen anxiety.

8. Getting Good Sleep at Night

Getting at least 8 to 10 hours of sleep is one of the most important steps in improving your overall health and wellbeing. Lack of sleep can lead to crankiness or loss of focus. It can increase stress levels especially if you spend the whole day at work or had streneous physical activities.

9. Drinking Herbal Teas

If you’re more of a tea-person, then you should make it a habit to drink herbal teas like chamomile. Studies show that it can help improve cortisol levels, the body’s main stress hormone. Chamomile tea can help soothe your mind from sudden stress or anxiety.

10. Spend time with your pets

Pets are one of the sweetest and lovable beings you can have as your companion. Nothing beats the feeling of coming home and being greeted by your pets who have been patiently waiting at your door.

A 2018 study revealed that pets are also beneficial to people suffering from mental health problems as playing or spending time with them can help you forget about stressors and relax your mind.

Playing With Pets
Having pets is reportedly good for your mental health. 16081684/ Pixabay