How to reduce anxiety and stress

Stress is something that just about everyone knows well and experiences often. It's that feeling of pressure, typically a result of too much to do and too little time to do it in. In a busy life, stress is almost unavoidable. Stress is caused by events that are positive — new job, vacation or marriage — as well as negative — job loss, divorce or death in the family. Stress is not the event itself but rather, your psychological or physical reaction to the event. Anxiety is a tense feeling that often accompanies stress. It's typically directed toward the future — toward something that may happen soon. Some Anxiety can motivate you or help yo respond to danger. However, if you have ongoing anxiety that interferes with daily activities and makes it hard to enjoy life, then anxiety can be a problem. Lifestyle and home remedies: • Keep physically active. Develop a routine so that you're physically active most days of the week. Exercise is a powerful stress reducer. It may improve your mood and help you stay healthy. Start out slowly and gradually increase the amount and intensity of your activities. • Avoid alcohol and recreational drugs. These substances can cause or worsen anxiety. If you can't quit on your own, see your doctor or find a support group to help you. • Quit smoking and cut back or quit drinking caffeinated beverages. Both nicotine and caffeine can worsen anxiety. • Discuss your concerns. Talking with a trusted friend helps relieve stress and may provide a more po...

While you can’t avoid all of the stress in your life, there are stress and anxiety relief strategies that can help you cope more effectively. This article discusses some self-help techniques that can help you get a handle on stress and anxiety. It also covers when to consider talking to a professional. Exercise can be beneficial for a variety of reasons. It helps to lower the body's stress hormones including adrenaline and cortisol, while also increasing endorphin levels. Endorphins are the body's "feel-good" chemicals. In addition to acting as natural painkillers, they also play a role in inducing feelings of relaxation and boosting mood. • Sit in a comfortable position. • Place one hand on your belly and the other hand on your chest. • Inhale slowly through your nose, allowing your belly to expand to move your hand outward without expanding your chest. • Slowly exhale through pursed lips and let your hand on your belly gently help push all of the air out. • Repeat this move for 3 to 10 breaths. Meditation Experts also suggest that Label Your Emotions Research has also found that, in many cases, putting your feelings into words, known as affect labeling, can help reduce the intensity of those emotions. This means that talking to a friend about the things that are causing your stress can actually make those feel less overwhelming. Focus on labeling your emotions clearly and be as specific as you can be. You might start by saying something general such as “I feel bad,” but ...