Stressed? Natural Remedies for Stress & Anxiety

A pandemic, global inflation, a war, job loss, global warming, fluctuating lifestyles, uncertain futures,  I think it’s safe to say, we’re all stressed.

Don’t get me wrong, some stress is good, positive even. When you’re up late at night trying to meet that report deadline, or when you have that big fight with your partner. This type of stress is needed as it helps our bodies manage a ‘dangerous’ situation.

I’m talking about the long term chronic stress. When you have stress that lasts for a long period of time, that’s when the problem begins. Why? Because usually, people who are chronically stressed, are so used to being…chronically stressed, that they don’t realize they’re... chronically stressed.

Chronic stress is detrimental to our bodies. The reason why is because the body will stay alert all the time despite there being no dangerous situation. The longer this goes on, the more likely you are to develop serious health problems.

High blood pressure is the first and foremost. Over time, this can cause heart disease and even a stroke. Don’t forget heart disease is the silent killer. I covered this in a previous blog post here.

Let’s sum up a little here of what we’ve discussed so far.

Two types of stress:

How stress affects the body

Chronic stress negatively affects the body in numerous ways including:

So now the question is, how do you know whether you’re stressed, or just wading your way through the year 2022. Remember when we thought 2020 was the ‘tough year we just needed to get through?’ Yeah, me too.

Stress will show in various symptoms. There’s actually four different types. These are: physical, emotional, behavioural and cognitive.

Physically, you will probably have aches & pains, headaches, an upset stomach, weight loss/gain or a stiff jaw. Emotionally, you will be moody, irritable, feeling overwhelmed. Behavioural and cognitive symptoms include memory problems, isolating yourself and developing nervous habits (nail biting, playing with your hair etc).

Symptoms

I would go into why it happens, but let’s be honest, life is tough. So whether you’re having money problems, moving house, starting a new job, getting divorced, there’s probably something going on in your life right now that’s making you stressed.

So, what do we do?

The reality is that we will never not be stressed to some extent. And that’s okay. But it’s important that we are aware of the basics and focus on finding a natural remedy that works for you. We’re all different, so what de-stresses me is probably going to be different from what de-stresses you.

Natural Remedies for Stress

Here are some top natural remedies for stress:

Exercise

Boost those endorphins! It doesn’t have to be hitting the gym daily. Just a walk outside in the fresh air is enough. Or follow along a home workout or yoga session on YouTube.

Avoid alcohol

Another stimulant that while might provide temporary comfort, doesn’t make you any less stressed.

Quit smoking

I know, I know, easier said than done. But, besides lung cancer and heart disease, smoking can wreak havoc on mental health. Fight the urge especially when the more stressed you are, the more likely you are to reach for that pack of smokes.

Reduce caffeine

Stimulant = not good for stress. While the short burst of energy feels great, what goes up must come down. This doesn’t just cause more stress, but anxious feelings and insomnia too.

Take a supplement

Need I say more? Take a look here!

Meditate

Personally, this helps me greatly when I struggle to fall asleep. It’s all about being mindful and putting aside even ten minutes a day to be present with just yourself.

Journal

Sometimes, you just need to let those thoughts out. Journalling helps to process any feelings that you are struggling to work through and help understand situations you aren’t sure of.

Weighted blanket

The calming effect is incredible. If you haven’t tried sleeping with a weighted blanket, give it a go. It helps!

Eat healthy

YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT! Ditch the junk. I know that when you’re stressed, you’re more likely to want to devour that tub of ice-cream, crisps, chocolate, whatever is in sight, but it just ends up doing more harm than good.

Spend time with your pets

If I could take my dog with me everywhere I go, I would. I guarantee I would be significantly less stressed. Animals really are the best.

Aromatherapy

Lavender, orange, lemon, chamomile are just a few essential oils known to help lower stress.

Talk to a loved one

Especially with the pandemic and working from home, it’s been easier to forget how to make meaningful connections. We need these connections for our mental health generally. Plus, venting to a friend or family member always helps.

Prioritize self-care

It’s all about you 💚

Let me know if you have any others that work better for you. It's good to help each other so the longer the list, the better.

P.S. It goes without saying that if you’re feeling any level of stress, get a jar of our Anti-Anxiety supplement. It’s a life saver for so many people, myself included. It helps to calm me down while boosting my overall mood. Plus, it helps me get consistent sleep, something I was really struggling with.

P.P.S When stress is affecting your daily life, it might be necessary to contact your doctor or therapist. Be safe everyone xx