How Can I Treat My Anxiety?

For those that deal with anxiety, it can be tempting to turn to medication to relieve those overbearing feelings. Medication can be effective when prescribed by a doctor in some cases, but in most cases, lifestyle changes can be enough to help you effectively battle anxiety.

Our AFC Urgent Care Greenwood team provides some further helpful info on anxiety below, so keep reading!

What Causes Anxiety?

Unfortunately, researchers aren’t sure of the exact cause of anxiety. But it’s likely a combination of factors that play a role. These include genetic and environmental factors, as well as brain chemistry. Also, researchers believe that the areas of the brain responsible for controlling fear may be impacted.

If you aren’t sure whether or not you’ve experienced anxiety, we’ve listed some common symptoms below.

Common Symptoms of Anxiety

  • Tense muscles
  • Trembling
  • Numbness or tingling in the arms, hands or legs
  • Sweating or flushing
  • A churning feeling in the stomach
  • Nausea
  • Diarrhea
  • Headaches
  • A backache
  • Arrhythmia and heart palpitations

Are There Things I Can Do to Reduce My Anxiety?

Definitely! As we said earlier, most cases of anxiety can be effectively treated by making healthy lifestyle changes.

We’ve listed some natural, healthy remedies for anxiety below.

Tips to Fight Anxiety

  • Exercise. Simply moving around, putting some physical stress on your body, though it might sound counterproductive, can help relieve mental stress.
  • Reduce your caffeine intake. All those extra cups of coffee can come back to bite you as high doses of caffeine are known to increase anxiety. Drink water instead!
  • Journal your feelings. Jotting down your thoughts will help you leave your anxious feelings behind.
  • Eat healthy foods. Healthy foods instead of comfort foods are better for your physical and mental health.
  • Listen to music. Enjoyable music can induce the relaxation response by helping lower blood pressure and heart rate, as well as stress hormones.

Do you have other questions about mental health or anxiety? If so, our AFC Urgent Care Greenwood team is here for you! Don’t hesitate to call or visit us.