Natural Ways to Relieve Stress
Stress is a psychological and physiological reaction to situations that your mind and body regard as overwhelming. Sometimes, we face situations or even people that we just can’t cope with, which triggers something in our psyche, bringing on stress.
Author:Stefano MclaughlinReviewer:Karan EmeryJan 24, 2022129.4K Shares1.8M Views
Stress is a psychological and physiological reaction to situations that your mind and body regard as overwhelming. Sometimes, we face situations or even people that we just can’t cope with, which triggers something in our psyche, bringing on stress.
It can affect anyone: men, women, or children - even our pets get stressed at times. There are no rigid criteria of sex or age; we can all be affected by stress, but how we deal with that stress ultimately determines our overall mental health and wellbeing.
There are numerous ways that people deal with stress, and in this article, we will highlight some of the natural ways that you can relieve it.
Practice Deep Breathing
We all breathe, that’s an obvious fact, but deep breathing is something completely different and is a brilliant way to reduce our stress levels.
Breathing exercisesand taking deep breaths can slow the heart rate and help us relax, which will reduce the stress we feel.
Many deep-breathing exercises can be learned, but one of the easiest ones to master is to breathe in deeply for five seconds, hold that breath for two seconds and then breathe out for five seconds. This will help activate your parasympathetic nervous system, which helps reduce the feelings of stress and anxiety you are experiencing.
Take Regular Exercise
It seems that exercise comes up a lot when looking at ways to deal with wellness and mental health issues, and there’s a good reason for that - it works!
No, exercise alone won’t cure your stress, but taking regular, gentle exercise like gardeningcan greatly reduce your stress levels and make you feel a little less overwhelmed. Exercise is a great way of boosting your feel-good endorphins and is also a great distraction from whatever is bothering you.
Because you need to focus on your body’s movements while playing tennis or swimming, this will help push your daily stresses and worries to the back of your mind. Plus, there’s the added bonus of getting fitter and losing any excess weight you may be carrying - another reason why taking regular exercise can make you feel much more content.
Eat Healthily
When we feel overwhelmed, and our stress levels are spiraling out of control, it sometimes means that we eat foods that aren’t particularly good for us, even though they do make us feel better when we are actually eating them.
Polishing off an entire bag of candy or a huge pile of fries may make us feel better in the short term, but these feelings rarely last, and we will, more often than not, feel worse when the realization sets in about the number of calories you’ve just consumed.
Good nutritionis important as stress can hurt our bodies and has a tendency to wipe out certain vitamins. Maintaining a healthy and balanced diet will help your body feel healthy and your mind, which will help you better combat your stress levels.
Take Natural Supplements
What you put into your body can have an effect on your overall mood, your sleep patterns, and your ability to cope with the stresses and strains that our busy lives throw at us. Eating healthily is the first step, but some natural supplements are available that are proven to help combat stress.
A good way to reduce stress are ashwagandha pills, which have been used in Indian medicine for thousands of years. Made from the root of the ashwagandha plant, these supplements are classed as adaptogens, which help your body adapt and deal with both physical and mental stress.
Ashwagandha is a natural product containing amino acids, herbs, and vitamins, which help normalize cortisol levels, thus reducing stress levels. Research has shown that these supplements can also help with irregular sleep patterns and may also help with anxiety and depression.
Lowering your stress levels and reducing the effect that overwhelming and difficult situations have on your overall wellbeing, and mental health should be as important as cleaning your teeth.
Admitting that you are stressed and recognizing what factors are causing that stress is a good place to start. Life is hard, we get that, and it’s not always easy to keep calm when life always seems to throw you a curveball when you are least expecting it. But hopefully, this article has given you a few tips to get you started on reducing your stress levels the natural way.
Stefano Mclaughlin
Author
Stefano Mclaughlin is a Psychologist focused on mental health, emotional well-being, and healthcare policy. He studied Psychology and Public Health at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, gaining a deep understanding of the intersection between mental health and public policy.
Stefano's mission is clear: he aims to destigmatize mental health discussions, improve access to mental healthcare, and promote emotional well-being for all. Drawing from personal experiences with anxiety and depression, Stefano shares real stories to make mental health topics more relatable and less intimidating.
In addition to his advocacy work, Stefano enjoys delving into books, experimenting in the kitchen, and embarking on new adventures. These hobbies fuel his creativity and inspire fresh perspectives for his advocacy work.
Karan Emery
Reviewer
Karan Emery, an accomplished researcher and leader in health sciences, biotechnology, and pharmaceuticals, brings over two decades of experience to the table. Holding a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from Stanford University, Karan's credentials underscore her authority in the field.
With a track record of groundbreaking research and numerous peer-reviewed publications in prestigious journals, Karan's expertise is widely recognized in the scientific community.
Her writing style is characterized by its clarity and meticulous attention to detail, making complex scientific concepts accessible to a broad audience. Apart from her professional endeavors, Karan enjoys cooking, learning about different cultures and languages, watching documentaries, and visiting historical landmarks.
Committed to advancing knowledge and improving health outcomes, Karan Emery continues to make significant contributions to the fields of health, biotechnology, and pharmaceuticals.
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