Are you feeling stressed and anxious? Do you feel overwhelmed or like you have a mountain to climb when you have some normal tasks to complete (or a bit more than usual…)? Are you having trouble staying calm?

Tell yourself that you are not alone. Anxiety has never been so present and palpable.

The news is not always the most encouraging, and unfortunately, the focus is placed more on the most stressful factors than the most encouraging ones in news reports. Our daily lives have changed, we miss our loved ones, social life is more than limited, we spend time with our family but intensively, without the usual "breaks" of the workday, for those who are working from home. The fear of the virus cannot be denied either.

Next, the era is all about instantaneity. News travels around the world at a crazy speed, and our brains are bombarded with information from all sources. Social networks, phones, emails, texts, Messenger, WhatsApp, video conferences, at any moment, at any hour of the day. Is a response delayed? We find another way to reach you.

The brain must react and process all this information, but it is not designed to handle all these tasks at a frantic pace without resting sometimes. We must allow it to take breaks from screens and all these stimuli.

The era is also about performance. We must perform, meet various professional and family demands, regardless of the situation we find ourselves in, which creates a lot of frustration and stress.

Everyone experiences ups and downs. It's normal to sometimes feel overwhelmed by events, stressed, and anxious. It becomes problematic when anxiety starts to control us.

Anxiety Symptoms

Here are some symptoms of anxiety:

• Difficulty sleeping
• Changing mood
• Angry
• Loss of appetite or, conversely, always feeling hungry
• Anxiety attacks
• etc.

The more these symptoms are present, the more they become ingrained, and the harder it becomes to get rid of them. If you realize that these words resonate with you particularly, it may be time to take a closer look.

How to Naturally Reduce Anxiety

There are different ways to naturally reduce anxiety and help your body regain control over these symptoms.

• The first thing would be to try to start and end our days without screens – the news, social media, emails, tasks, etc. It can be as simple as getting up with a small yoga routine, quietly drinking a coffee or tea, or setting an intention for our day. Intentions are an excellent way to prepare your day for a positive outcome. They can be simple: "Thank you for the positive attitude I will have today." Or, more complex and goal-oriented: "Thank you for allowing me to finish my file on time." By saying thank you before achieving our intentions, we anticipate our own success. We remind ourselves to be grateful throughout the day. In the evening, you can go to bed reading a few pages of a good book or writing down some gratitudes from your day in a journal. Writing down your day's highlights allows you to end the day on a positive note.
• Another excellent way to calm down is to use what nature offers us. Supplementation with certain plants has the properties to bring us calm, reduce stress, help us regain serenity, lower cortisol levels, and give a boost to our adrenal glands. Products like theStress Less , the Ashwagandha , magnesium Synermag, St. John's Wort, are really very helpful at this level. Several other products are available on this page of Stress Managementare here to help us regain a certain serenity.

• Another excellent way to reduce stress and anxiety is through sports. As mentioned in the article Fight depression, anxiety, and stress through sports? Sport has a big impact on our hormones! Exercise helps us to be happy, to have energy, and to enjoy good quality sleep. If you don't exercise at all, it might be wise to incorporate some into your routine.

• Yes, it sounds simple to say, but in fact, it’s about taking the time to breathe and becoming aware of our breaths that helps us to refocus. Inhale slowly while counting to 4, hold your breath for 4 seconds, and exhale slowly while counting to 4. Repeat the cycle 3 to 5 times. By focusing on your breathing rather than your surroundings, you will regain your calm. And you can repeat this a few times throughout your day.

• Yoga is also an excellent way to combine the last two points. Physical activity that helps us refocus and breathe. (See the article: The Benefits of Yoga and Simple Poses).

• Aromatherapy is also a natural method to calm anxiety. Applying blends of essential oils to a carrier oil on the body or using essential oil diffusers are particularly interesting and non-invasive methods. These little wonders of oils trigger neurotransmitters in the brain, which release various sensations and feelings of well-being. The essential oils most frequently used to reduce anxiety are Ylang-Ylang, true lavender, sweet marjoram, Roman chamomile, and neroli oil. (See our collections of Candles and of Mists, which can help you feel more relaxed)

In summary, the 5 senses are the best way to connect with your surroundings, to refocus, and to calm yourself. It is by being "fully aware" and slowing down that you will manage to regain a sense of calm. And one step at a time, you will accomplish the tasks you have to complete during your day.

When to ask for help?

Of course, for some people, such measures are not enough to relieve anxiety. If anxiety symptoms increase – such as heart palpitations or excessive sweating due to anxious feelings – it may be time to consult a professional. The sooner, the better, because the earlier it is addressed, the less ingrained it will be.

As they say in yoga: Inhale, exhale…

Namasté

Article written by Audrée Hogue