What is Anxiety? And 10 Ways to Defeat it!
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The world is a little crazy right now, to say the least, and not an easy time to be living in.
We have heard from so many people who are experiencing higher levels of anxiety than usual or that are feeling stressed and possibly overwhelmed at home for the first time.
The number of people that said they felt anxious in response to a survey in March 2020, at the start of the UK lockdown, was almost 50%.
So... What is anxiety?
The following definition is from the Mental Health Foundation website:
Anxiety is a feeling of unease, worry or fear which, when persistent and impacting on life may be a sign of an anxiety disorder.
The symptoms of anxiety may include any or all of the following:
- A sense of dread
- Restlessness
- Being "on-edge or uptight."
- Difficulty staying concentrated
- Difficulty sleeping
- Easily irritated or short-tempered
As further confusing and anxiety-causing restrictions are imposed on all of our lives for the greater good of our local communities and nation, we have compiled ten of our favourite things to help you unwind and reduce anxiety during this stressful time:
1. Add some CBD to your daily wellness routine
Supplementing your diet with CBD products can potentially help to balance your endocannabinoid system and help us better utilise the serotonin in our brain to help you defeat stress.
2. Chill out with chocolate
Eating chocolate can have similar effects on Anandamide levels in the brain as CBD is thought to, helping to slow the breakdown of Anandamide and keep stress levels low.
3. Massage your feet
Massaging your feet is not only super relaxing, especially if you have someone else do it for you, it helps improve blood flow and remove toxin build-up in your feet. To make the massage even more powerful use our strong CBD massage oil to give yourself a boost!
4. Get some exercise
Finding time to exercise is always important and especially so during the current health crisis as being overweight adds to the severity of Coronavirus. It is also scientifically proven that exercise releases chemicals, including endorphins, in the brain to help you feel great and bust stress.
5. Sing, the louder the better!
Studies have shown that singing (it doesn't matter how good you are!) can also release chemicals and hormones within us known to reduce stress and anxiety, such as endorphins and the love hormone, oxytocin!
6. Meditate
You don't have to sit with your legs crossed humming, though that's great if it works for you. We recommend finding time to relax with your eyes closed away from distraction to visualise yourself in the calmest place on Earth for you and letting the day's worries float away.
7. Drinking Green-tea
Green tea contains L-Theanine, a chemical that can help reduce your bodies responses to stress; it also tastes great!
8. Take a bath
Taking the time to soak in a bath has been a favourite way to unwind for centuries, a great way to soothe both body and mind! Take time to light candles, dim lights and maybe add some essential oils and Epsom salts to make the most of your bath time!
9. Be in nature/Mindfulness.
If possible, and restrictions allow, try to spend time walking in the woods, park or beach taking time to admire the beauty of your surroundings.
The Oxford Mindfulness Cente says "Mindfulness is a therapeutic technique that can help you manage and prevent feelings of depression, stress, anxiety or discontent. It enables anyone who practices it to live a more attentive, appreciative and vibrant life."
10. Turn off your phone
Try switching off your phone and laptop for short periods in the evening, giving yourself a break from screentime to try some of the other tips above.
Remember a great night's sleep will always do you a world of good and reducing or cutting out your electronic device usage in the hour before bed will help you fall asleep quicker and sleep deeper!
We hope there is something here that you can add to your routine to help reduce stress and anxiety!
For even more fantastic tips to reduce stress and anxiety that you can do alone or as a family around the home check out this in-depth blog post: Calm Home, Calm Mind - Tips For Less Stress At Home for more details.
However, if you prefer to reach out and chat to one of our team about any of the above or if you have any CBD related questions at all, then please use the live chat function at the bottom right corner of the screen!