When dealing with anxiety or stress, it can sometimes seem like there’s no hope for finding a way to relieve your symptoms.
And even though traditional treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy and medications are important and work for many people, sometimes you may need to find alternative approaches for managing your symptoms and learning how to cope.
Whether it’s because of harsh side-effects from medications, or just wanting to take control of your life and well-being, even simple activities or habits can have a very positive effect and have long-lasting benefits.
So, let’s explore four alternative solutions for anxiety and stress that you could try, which have helped millions of people all over the world and could be the right option for you as well.
Exercise
When you’re stressed out of your mind by everything that’s going on in your life, the last thing you want to do is go out and exercise.
But the truth is, exercise can be one of the most effective ways to control your anxiety symptoms, allowing the body to calm itself down using hormones and natural sedatives that are produced by our bodies.
Even though it may be difficult to start exercising when you’re feeling anxious, once you get into it, you may find that you feel much better and are able to cope with whatever’s happening in your life much more effectively.
You see, exercise can serve as a sort of release that enables you to let go of all that negative energy and refocus yourself as you shift your attention from whatever’s causing you stress at that moment to the activity that you’re currently doing.
In the end, it allows you to gain perspective on the challenges that you’re facing, and get some distance between yourself and the anxious thoughts and emotions that you’re feeling, which is often all that you need to get yourself in a more balanced state and evaluate your situation more objectively.
What’s more, your brain releases endorphins and other hormones that will get you feeling better and more confident, with the positive effects sometimes lasting for as long as 48 hours after exercise.
Hypnotherapy
There are many traditional methods for dealing with anxiety such as cognitive behavioral therapy and medication, but although these can be very effective, that doesn’t mean there aren’t alternative approaches that could work for you.
One of the approaches that’s gaining a lot of popularity is hypnotherapy – it allows patients to let go of their anxieties and relax, making it easier for the mind to explore some of the subconscious feelings that are often the cause of anxiety in the first place.
Often, hypnotherapy can be a great tool for exploring repressed memories such as traumatic events or abuse, learning how to cope with daily stress, as well as reprogramming the brain to react to different stimuli in a more positive way.
With time, hypnotherapy can lead to improved focus, greater control of one’s emotions, as well as better self-esteem, although the exact methodology and application of the therapy are still debated among some circles.
But, while it is certainly not for everyone, hypnotherapy has been quite effective at helping reduce anxiety symptoms for some people, so if you’re looking for alternative approaches that may help, it’s certainly an option that you should consider.
Meditation
Most people have heard about the potential benefits that meditation could have on managing stress and anxiety, but only a small percentage take the time to learn to meditate and make it a part of their daily life.
And that’s understandable.
Without experience, meditation can seem confusing and difficult, especially if you’re going through a stressful period and can’t seem to achieve any positive results from trying it.
But if you put in the effort and teach yourself how to let go of anxious thoughts and allow your brain to rest, you may find that it’s one of the best long-term solutions for anxiety and any stressful situations that you encounter daily.
But how to get started with meditation?
Well, the important thing to remember when working out your meditation routine is that you don’t need to meet someone else’s standards of what constitutes meditation.
Just because something works for one person, doesn’t mean that it’s the right approach for your as well, so feel free to make yourself as comfortable as possible and don’t worry if your meditation sessions don’t look the same as something done by the “experts.”
For instance, although meditation is often done in a cross-legged position on the floor, that’s not the only way to do it – if you find that sitting down that way is uncomfortable and prevents you from relaxing, you can sit on the floor differently, kneel, or even sit on a comfortable chair.
The only thing to consider is that you don’t want to be too comfortable so that you don’t fall asleep – it’s important to remain relaxed, but alert so that you can reap the full benefits of meditation.
Once you’ve found a position that feels right, begin trying to calm your mind. Don’t try and force yourself not to think about anything, but instead take slow, relaxing breaths and observe your thoughts, trying to not engage them and letting them pass through.
Over time, you should learn to enter a relaxed state where all of your worries fade away, leaving you refreshed and centered, ready to tackle challenges with a sound and calm mind.
Hemp Supplements
Hemp products are one of the fastest-growing alternative medicine forms in the world – they have proven to be very effective for reducing pain, discomfort, and managing a range of psychological disorders such as anxiety or ADHD.
Hemp oil is a supplement that’s made from Cannabis Sativa, and it offers a range of benefits without the psychedelic effect of weed, and thus becomes a valuable supplement and treatment that’s completely safe to take for almost anyone.
Besides having incredible nutritional value, hemp oil works great for treating anxiety and stress. Even though the research on the subject is still in its early stages, there are promising results, and many people are reporting reduced stress levels and better overall mood.
Some have even been able to forego having to use medication which can often come with severe side effects, so although you should definitely consult your physician about any changes in your treatment plan, hemp oil may be an option you could consider.
Millions of people from all over the world are using hemp products to help with various ailments, and there’s no indication that there are any significant risks involved – there is no psychedelic effect, it is not addictive, and doesn’t usually cause any unpleasant side-effects either.