Anxiety Society

We are living in a society that is full of pressure, pressure to have the best of everything, pressure to be the best, the most successful, the most wealthy!! It is no wonder that anxiety is the most common mental illness in the U.S., with more than 40 million adults over 18 affected. Now while many cases of anxiety can be attributed to genetics or chemical imbalances in the brain, its my belief that a lot of cases of anxiety are due to the society we live in. Now none of these statistics and facts do us any good if we don't have a plan to ease anxiety, and here at I Feel Great Today, we have experienced anxiety first hand and have some simple tips to help ease the feelings of anxiety.

• Working out-Exercise releases natural endorphins in the brain, those endorphins can ease anxiety, and get your blood flowing, and feel happier! Exercise is the only almost immediate ease for anxiety.
• Mediation-Mediation can help free your mind of those harmful and anxious thoughts, it can help to relax and distract you.
• Sleep/Rest-Going without sleep is something that we have found that will only heighten and make anxiety worse. Getting plenty of sleep helps to make sure if anxiety comes on you are fully rested and fully minded to take on the attack.
• Get out in the World-Getting out your bubble of anxiety aka your house can help raise your spirits. Seeing people, and being out in the sunshine can help ease your anxiety and make you feel a part of the world again.
• Visualization-Picturing your favorite place or favorite scene in a movie, something that makes you happy and smile, can help to make anxiety float away. Also for those suffering from more severe anxiety there are some guided visualizations that can be done to ease anxiety and depression as well.
• Diet-The things you eat and drink can affect anxiety as well. Eating protein in the morning can help give you energy throughout the day. Also eating complex carbohydrates such as whole grains, can help too. Complex carbohydrates increase the amount of serotonin in your brain, giving you a calming feeling. Also try to limit or even avoid caffeine and alcohol. While many cope with anxiety and depression by using drugs and alcohol, it is never the answer. Drugs and alcohol may help treat the immediate symptoms of anxiety and depression, but in the long run using can worsen or magnify your anxiety. 

When you are suffering from anxiety it is common to feel alone, but you are not, there are many people suffering from the same thing, and it doesn't make you weak or crazy! It helps to talk to others, and learn from the things other people have tried and done. If your anxiety is severe or getting out of control it maybe time to see a mental health professional. As we mentioned above here at I Feel Great Today, anxiety is something we have experienced first hand, and the good news is we have reached the other side of the valley, and your anxiety can be eased and controlled too, and we hope you will one day feel GREAT!!