For years, I have been dealing with anxiety and stress stemming from school work, family life, overthinking every situation, career choices, money, etc. I was always shy about my anxiety when I was younger, thinking people would judge me for this mental health “issue.” As I got older I realized it’s extremely common and more people suffer from anxiety than we know. Anxiety and stress affects over 40 million adults just in the US alone according to this article. Children and teens under 18 years old also suffer from anxiety.
It’s a highly treatable illness, however many people who suffer from it do not actually seek treatment because 1) they are ashamed, 2) they don’t think it’s thatbad or 3) they don’t want to take prescription medicines as treatment, which is what most doctors and healthcare professionals push for. Yeah, some of us suffer from it more than others, but that doesn’t mean we should ignore how we feel when we are overwhelmed, over stressed, or anxious.
Over the last 12 years, I have been hospitalized about 6 times because my anxiety has gotten so bad it’s resulted in cyclical vomiting syndrome. I won’t get into TOO much detail, but I basically get a “migraine of the stomach” and can’t stop throwing up until I get a medicine through an IV to calm me down. Don’t get it twisted though, this isn’t the same as a panic attack or episode, but it only happens during times of high stress or anxiety in my life. Though, I’ve discovered that I’m not really a fan of prescription medicines for anxiety because I don’t like the way they make me feel afterwards. Instead, there are a few holistic ways I have been coping with anxiety more recently and I’ve decided to share this with you guys in case any of you are suffering from this, as well.
- Reading:
Self Help books are my favorite books to read because they make you see things in a different way. The fact that they are titled Self Helpsays it all. There are many types of books like this that you can read depending on what you are struggling with or what you choose to improve in your life. My favorite books are those that help me change negativity into positivity. I realize that when I change my negative thoughts and actions filled with fear, worry, anxiety, etc. into positive thoughts and actions filled with hope, love, and light, I suddenly feel better about whatever situation I am currently anxious about and receive positivity in my daily life. Here are some of my favorite books that have helped me the most.
- Stretching:
Anything from a full-on yoga sesh to a quick 5-minute stretch in the morning helps the right energy flow through my body and leaves me with a sense of calmness. Stretching loosens any tightness in the body and immediately relives tension we’ve created from our hectic lives. Combining stretching with meditation is one of my favorite things to do to allow positive energy to flow and make me feel good.
- Meditation:
For some reason when we hear or see the word meditationwe automatically think of Buddhist monks sitting in silence for hours. Or is that just me? Meditation is one of the best ways to align our thoughts with our future actions, bring us peace with our past and accept the changes we want to make for our current situation. Practicing simple breathing exercises for a few minutes a day is the easiest way to meditate, especially if you are new to this. I personally enjoy listening to guided meditation videos or podcasts with positive affirmations. I try to meditate about once a day either 10 minutes in the morning combined with stretching or before bed laying down and relaxed. More recently, I have heard about the use of healing crystals during meditation. I don’t know much about them, but I was just gifted three types of crystals and hope to include them in my medication sessions.
Stretching helps your energy flow 
Photos by Adrian Cortez
I try to incorporate these 3 things into my daily or at least weekly routine to get the best result. On days that I feel extremely overwhelmed, I also take 2 of these gummies to calm me down a bit more. By no means is this sponsored, but I genuinely believe they make me feel better on my most hectic days.
I hope you find some relief in these practices and remember: you are not alone!
I love this article ❤️ i am very proud of you!