Beat anxiety before it beats you

Five ways to tackle your stress and anxiety levels. 

Stress and anxiety is one of the pitfalls of fast-paced modern life, and according to The Mental Health Foundation, one in four people will experience some kind of mental health problem in the course of a year. In the UK, anxiety and depression is the most common mental disorder.

Experiencing stress and anxiety on a daily basis could quickly escalate to more serious health problems, but there are activities and lifestyle changes that can be carried out to help prevent this. Take a look at our short guide to help you discover and maintain a feeling of calm everyday.

Get enough sleep

Sleep patterns directly impact mental and physical health, and lack of sleep in particular can contribute to overall stress and anxiety. Sometimes though it can become a vicious cycle, where anxiety keeps you awake. Try to schedule between seven and nine hours of sleep every night and consider taking herbal remedies to aid better sleep.

Eat healthily

Fuelling your body with the right nutrients will help it to better cope with moments of stress. In particular, studies have linked vitamin B with good mental health, and omega-3s may help reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety. Alternatively, sugar is thought to increase symptoms of anxiety and make us feel worse.

Have fun

Making time to meet up with friends, watch a funny video, play with the kids or just to do something that makes you laugh can provide a much needed boost of happiness. In fact, studies have shown that laughter and smiling can help to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression.

De-clutter

A messy house or work-space can make it difficult for you to relax and feel comfortable, and thus can leave you feeling emotionally agitated and anxious. Try and make a habit of keeping things clutter-free as it will benefit your mind-set in the long-term.

Create a vision board

If future events, tasks or exams are making you feel overwhelmed and anxious, you could try to rearrange your thoughts creatively by creating a vision board. This will help you to prioritise and feel more confident about managing different tasks. You can do this the arty-crafty way with poster paper and pens, or on the computer using Pinterest. The act of getting creative will also help to bring about feelings of calm.

If you are finding your anxiety and stress levels are becoming increasingly erratic, why not consider complementary therapies that specialise in relieving symptoms? Take a look at our therapy topics page for a range of treatments that can help. 

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