Anxiety Relief, Natural Cure

We live our lives at such a fast pace today that we tend to forget about natural stress and anxiety relief, don't we? When we feel stressed the easier option is to grab a 'cure-all' pill or medicine. But since stress can destroy our health and even kill, perhaps it's time to look at our response more carefully. Good health and the freedom to enjoy life are priceless, so why not stop and consider some natural stress and anxiety relief techniques?

Should You See Your Doctor?

So many of us - especially men! - avoid seeing the doctor. Bad news is never welcome, is it? And since a doctor's advice isn't free, when you're stressed you don't want to fork out for something you already know about. So should you ever consult your doctor for stress and anxiety relief?

Make that appointment if you are having seriously disturbed eating and/or sleeping patterns. See the doctor if you feel a sense of overwhelm and worry about 'carrying on' with life. Even if you feel you can cope, you need help if worry is dominating your day-to-day existence. Follow any advice given and take any medication, but you can also do much on your own to promote natural stress and anxiety relief.

Effective Breathing

Try this. The next time you are stressed, take a note of how you breathe. (If you're too stressed to notice, arrange for someone to observe you.) Panting, hyperventilating and generally breathing faster than normal are common symptoms, but they create a vicious cycle. The supply of oxygen to the lungs and the brain is cut. This causes distress, so it increases the anxiety.

When this brings on feelings of panic, try to relax and regain control. Rhythmic, deep breathing is an excellent form of natural stress and anxiety relief. Your heart beat will go back to normal and your blood pressure will stabilize. This will make you feel better right away. And this improvement will enable you to manage the crisis.

Although controlled breathing is a highly effective form of natural stress and anxiety relief, what can you do if you are too overcome to get under way? Many people have found this helpful: carry a small bottle of essential oils with you; put it to your nose and smell the fragrance. There and then you'll find it easier to breathe - your natural instinct takes over.

It's easy to find these oils in stores and on supermarket shelves. The most frequenttly used are tea tree, frankincense and lavender. Bergamot is another, but not everyone likes it! There's nothing artificial or synthetic about these oils, since they are extracts of fruits and plants. This puts them high in the rankings of natural stress and anxiety relief items. And it's well documented that just holding that little bottle will calm you when you're under stress. You know it's there if all else fails!