While it’s one of the most common mental health conditions, affecting millions of people around the world, anxiety can be difficult to deal with. Everyone’s experience is different, meaning that one treatment plan won’t work for every single individual. With a variety of symptoms and depression often mixed in, anxiety can be overwhelming to the point of stagnation. To help you manage your mental health in new ways, here are a few effective methods to manage your anxiety.

Alter Your Diet

Nutrition has a large impact on how your body and mind function. Getting the right amount of nutrients will help to maintain your neurotransmitters and neuronal structures within your nervous system. In particular, omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, folate, and vitamin B are all essential when it comes to managing anxiety. Eating foods like eggs, salmon, walnuts, chia seeds, avocados, bananas, yogurt and so on will help in easing your anxiety.

Make Time to Exercise

Being active throughout your day will get rid of any nervous energy you’re carrying with you. Regularly exercising also helps to improve your sleep, especially if you struggle with insomnia. Raising your heart rate while exercising will increase your body’s endorphin production, improving your mood.

Relax in Your Own Way

Whether it’s through taking a warm bath, turning to a book that brings you comfort or practicing yoga, it’s important that you find something that helps to clear your mind and relax your body. Even a quick technique like deep breathing will help you calm your mind before the anxiety takes over.

Develop a Positive Pep Talk

Negative thoughts about yourself are a common way to worsen any anxiety you’re already experiencing. An effective way to get a handle on your anxiety is to identify those thoughts and replace them when any kind of positive ones. Doing so will help you from spirally further into an episode of intense anxiety. Reframing the situation can help you change those habitual thoughts over time.

Quit Smoking

A quick fix rather than a long term solution to anxiety, smoking is a dangerous habit that can help during a stressful moment but isn’t worth the health problems that will follow. To effectively manage your anxiety in a way that’s best for both your mental and physical health, quit smoking. Studies have shown that nicotine and other chemicals in cigarettes are actually linked to anxiety.

Try Meditation

Removing chaotic thoughts from your mind is one of the main goals of meditation. Replacing them with a sense of calmness for the present moment will help you to relieve anxiety. Studies conducted at John Hopkins showed that just 30 minutes of daily meditation can ease anxiety symptoms and work as an antidepressant. Adding in the relaxing scent of essential oils like lavender will help to promote good health and well-being.

Get Expert Advice

At Northshore Naturopathic Clinic, we are committed to helping patients achieve the best possible results through naturopathic treatments. Sometimes the answer can be as simple as a change in hormones or low levels of certain nutrients, and underlying changes in the gut microbiome. Located in North Vancouver, British Columbia, our naturopathic doctor offers treatments including anxiety treatments, allergy testing, food sensitivity testing, IV therapy, and more. For more information, give us a call or visit our website to book a consultation.