Do you suffer from anxiety and are looking for a way to treat it without drugs? Then you should take a look at these nine alternative therapies for anxiety that may be able to help alleviate your symptoms.
Do you ever feel nervous or tense for no reason? This may be coupled with things like sweating, increased heart rate, fatigue, and trembling. Does any of this sound familiar?
If so, you may suffer from one of the many panic and anxiety disorders.
It can be tiring and frustrating dealing with this during your daily life. Worse yet, it can impact your decision-making process by convincing you to avoid anxiety-inducing activities, like going to parties or speaking-up at your work meeting.
So, what can you do to help eliminate feelings of anxiety without going on prescription medications? Well, there are tons of alternative therapies for anxiety.
Do you want to learn more? Keep reading to discover 9 alternative therapies for anxiety.
1. Yoga and Meditation
If you struggle with anxiety, your brain maybe constantly swarming with terrifying or stressful thoughts. While there are many physical side effects of anxiety and panic disorders, the key to truly dealing with your anxiety is to calm your mind.
Yoga and meditation focus on mindful breathing. By relaxing your mind and focusing on nothing else but breathing, you may be able to push some anxious thoughts away.
This may be hard at first, but it becomes easier with practice. The best part is that regularly partaking in yoga and meditation can help you relax yourself absolutely anywhere by implementing mindful breathing techniques.
2. Massage Therapy
Many people with anxiety hold a lot of pent-up tension in their muscles. While massage therapy may not help to solve the underlying issue, it can provide an immediate release of stress.
You’ll walk out feeling relaxed and renewed, so you can better tackle the day ahead of you.
3. Acupuncture
The thought of a complete stranger sticking needles into your body may not seem like it could reduce anxiety – for many, it may be anxiety-inducing!
However, this centuries-old Chinese healing method can do wonders to relieve pent-up stress in your body. A professional acupuncturist will insert sterilized needles into specific areas of your body. This service is believed to help your body correctly balance its chi (also spelled qi).
4. Aromatherapy
Essential oils have been shown to provide many health benefits, including supporting digestion, assisting with hair growth, soothing bug bites, and (of course), reducing anxiety. All you have to do is find the right essential oils and inhale it or rub them on your skin.
Lavender, bergamot, rose, sandalwood, ylang-ylang, jasmine, and geranium are all great options for reducing anxiety.
5. Herbal Therapy
Many believe that certain herbs work as one of the best alternative therapies for anxiety.
Kava is considered by many to be the best herb you can use, and it’s backed by scientific studies showing that it’s just as effective as various anti-anxiety medications.
So, how does it work? Well, kavalactones (an active ingredient in kava) can actually improve your brain’s GABA levels by preventing excessive amounts of adrenaline from entering your body.
While kava teas and droplets are available in many grocery stores, these usually aren’t very effective. Kava supplements are the best route to go for anxiety relief but taking them with other supplements or alcohol can be very dangerous.
Many herbal teas, such as oolong tea, can also help reduce stress and act as a healthy alternative to coffee or soda.
6. Vitamin Therapy
Vitamin therapy is also one of the best alternative therapies for anxiety as certain vitamins have been shown to help reduce stress and boost your mood.
B complex vitamins are actually called the “happy vitamin.” A diet rich in these vitamins can boost your mood and make you less susceptible to stress. Similar to kava, B vitamins can have a positive influence on your brain’s GABA levels to help reduce feelings of anxiety and stress.
If you spend most of your time indoors, you may be lacking vitamin D in your system. This is especially true for many people during winter months. For this reason, it’s believed that vitamin D can help boost your mood and lessen symptoms of seasonal affective disorder.
7. Magnesium Supplements
Magnesium is a very common mineral deficiency in the United States because it has been removed from most of our food. Benefits of magnesium include calming nerves, increasing energy, reducing migraines, and relieving muscle aches.
The tricky thing about magnesium is that it gets burned up faster when our bodies are under stress. That means that your low-levels of magnesium are even lower than they should be due to stress. Taking magnesium supplements is an easy way to boost your levels and reduce your symptoms.
8. Maintain a Proper Diet
Now, you may have noticed that many of our alternative therapies for anxiety revolved around getting the right herbs, vitamins, and minerals into your body. Well, that’s because a proper diet can do wonders for your anxiety.
Consuming large quantities of unhealthy food can cause more stress on your body. It can also make you feel sluggish and fatigued. Fried foods, alcohol, caffeine, and excess sugar are all foods that will put your body under stress and make it work overtime.
Instead, go for a diet rich in vitamins and minerals. Opt for fresh fruits and vegetables, and don’t forget to drink plenty of water! A balanced diet can help reduce stress, boost your mood, energize you, and help you feel better overall.
9. Exercise Regularly
One of the most commonly overlooked alternative therapies for anxiety is regular exercise.
While all exercise is important, cardiovascular exercises can be the most effective in reducing feelings of stress and anxiety, while providing countless other health benefits.
A regular exercise routine including cardiovascular exercises and yoga can be a great way to reduce anxiety in your daily life.
Why Choose Alternative Therapies for Anxiety
For many people, living with anxiety can be exhausting. While there are many anti-anxiety medications available, they can come with negative side effects.
Alternative therapies for anxiety can help reduce unwanted feelings of stress and anxiety in a natural and healthy way. Meditation, massage therapy, acupuncture, and regular exercise paired with a balanced diet full of the proper minerals, herbs, and vitamins can go a long way to lower your anxiety.
Did you find this article helpful? Then check out our anxiety blog page for more posts like this.
