Anxiety is a normal human emotion that everyone experiences now and then. Many people feel anxious or nervous when faced with a problem at work, fear or worry about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome.

Over 40 million Americans suffer from some kind of anxiety disorder.

As a psychotherapist and coach for the past eighteen years, I have been asked hundreds of times about how people can better handle their anxiety. Traumatic incidents from 9/11 to multiple school shootings to the financial crisis have made anxiety one of the most common disorders experienced in the United States, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

Anxiety disorders are highly treatable but only about one third of people suffering seek help.

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For many people anxiety is like this…

You’re stressed out. At times, you flip out about small things. You sometimes experience rapid heartbeat, dry mouth and a sense that your legs may give out. You’re fearful for no apparent reason. You spend time worrying about things that have not happened but might. You feel constriction in your mind and body often. You have trouble relaxing and sometimes difficulty sleeping.

When you suffer from anxiety it can be debilitating. If it goes unexamined or is misunderstood, it can suck the joy out of your life. Through you can learn how to identify and minimize your anxiety triggers along with many natural ways to soothe stress and mitigate anxiety so you can enjoy your amazing, one of a kind, life.

It is impossible to avoid anxiety all together but there are certain steps you can take to lessen your level of anxiety.

Below are three of my top natural remedies to ease anxiety. To feel more freedom and joy, try incorporating all three into your daily and weekly routine.

Move Your Booty
Thirty cumulative minutes a day of any type of physical activity relieves anxiety by flooding your bloodstream with feel-good hormones. Exercise also fosters deeper sleep. Yoga is a great way to keep in shape, release endorphins and calm your mind.

Meditate
Meditation is the simple, yet complicated, act of sitting in stillness and silence for a dedicated period of time each day. As you spend time in a morning meditation you are calibrating your mind, body, and spirit for the day ahead. Meditation can also be used to calm the mind right after work or as the first step to plant the seed of an intention of a specific purpose or idea.

Need some guidance to get started? Check out my Meditation Transformation CD and learn how to start your day relaxed and connected to the pure potential of life.

Sleep
Being well rested is an important key to having a balanced mood and being less susceptible to anxiety. According to the National Sleep Foundation, there are a few important steps that you can take to ensure a good night’s sleep. In addition to limiting caffeine intake and not eating a heavy meal too close to bedtime they suggest you avoid napping during the day, establish a regular relaxing bedtime routine, sleep in a darkened room and avoid the bright light of a tech screen from ipad to television at least three hours before retiring for the night.

If you tend to ruminate or start to worry the moment you try to close your eyes and sleep, try a nightly ‘mind dump’ ritual. Write all your worries down on a pad next to your bed to literally and figuratively leave them there until the morning, when you can take action or make a plan.

Your anxiety can either work for or against you depending on how you manage it. Just as with every other emotion you experience, anxiety (if you pay attention to it) can serve as a tool to guide you. Feeling anxious can be a sign that something is misaligned.

Whether it’s your words, thoughts or actions, getting curious about why you’re feeling the way you do can provide insights into what actions you can take to move towards the feelings you desire.

If anxiety feels like it is the predominant emotion in your life the I would definitely encourage you incorporate the tools above into your day to day routine and consider seeking professional support. The modalities for treating anxiety are becoming better and better. There is help if you take steps to find it.

In the comments below I’d love for you to share your experiences with anxiety. When do you feel it and how do you deal with it? Also what steps, if any, have you taken steps to reduce anxiety and create more calm and ease in your life? I look forward to connecting with you about this topic.

Wishing you an anxiety-free weekend. As, always, take care of you.

Love Love Love

Terri

Terri Cole is a licensed psychotherapist, transformation coach, and an expert at turning fear into freedom. Sign up for Terri’s weekly Tune Up Tips and follow her on Twitter.

Image courtesy of Johan Larsson.