Posts in Anxiety
6 Ways to Manage Anxiety Without Medication

Anxiety is somewhat of a silent epidemic that affects millions of people across the world. It’s a normal part of life in minimal doses, giving us the ability to respond when there’s perceived danger.

It’s when anxiety ramps up and manifests as persistent worry, fear, and physical disruptions that it becomes problematic. Medication is always an option for managing anxiety, but many non-medication alternatives have been proven to be equally effective.

Being able to implement alternative methods allows you to build long-term resilience and move toward improvements in quality of life. Here are 6 ways to naturally improve anxious symptoms.

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Why Sleep Is So Important To Your Mental Health

Sleep is one of the most basic functions that we do each day. It’s necessary for our mind and body health but often gets pushed off when our schedules get busy.

Unfortunately, even one night of lost sleep can have detrimental impacts on our functioning and mental health. You may not notice the effects immediately, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t there. This connection goes pretty deep.

Here’s a look at why sleep is so vital to your overall mental health.

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6 Ways to Naturally Reduce Anxiety

Anxiety is a common occurrence for many people. It can cause a separation of your mind and body, leading to feelings of internal struggle and chaos.

While there are conventional options for treatment, more and more people are turning to natural alternatives to soothe their nervous systems. Here, we’ll explore six ways to manage your anxiety naturally.

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AnxietyPathways To Wellness
Understanding the Root Causes of Social Anxiety

As humans, we have a natural desire for human connection and social interaction with others. In fact, without it, we risk harming our physical, emotional, and mental health.

With that said, socializing doesn’t come naturally or without some element of struggle for everyone. Social batteries can become drained. Certain situations can be triggering. Circumstances can make different engagements feel uncomfortable and overwhelming.

Social anxiety can manifest in several different ways. You may find yourself panicking in large crowds or when you attend functions or group gatherings. You may feel jitters or perspiration when giving a presentation in front of a group. Meeting new people and making small talk in those settings can feel stressful.

As with any other anxiety type, there isn’t just one cause for social anxiety. Here, we’ll discuss some of the more common root causes impacting social anxiety. 

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AnxietyPathways To Wellness
Can Anxiety Create False Memories?

Anxiety can make day-to-day functions a struggle for people who suffer from it. Social activities can be difficult, reading social signs or conforming to social norms is harder, and controlling your thought processes may feel impossible.

Memory is one thing that can be affected by anxiety. Recent studies have shown that people who demonstrate anxious behaviors are also more likely to falsify memories. How does anxiety correlate with false memories? 

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What is High-Functioning Anxiety?

Stressful situations, whether in your personal or work life, tend to be met with a stress response. Anxiety makes you feel on edge and can negatively impact your ability to do day-to-day functions.

High-functioning anxiety looks a little different and may be less noticeable to the outside world. Even those who experience it may not be aware of it themselves. 

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Why Can’t I Adult? Addressing Anxiety From Being a “Grown-Up”

Adulting is hard! Read that one more time. Adulting is hard. When children transition to young adults, many of the comforts and supports that are so familiar begin to disappear. The expectation of being independent can be overwhelming in today’s world. There is no shame in saying that being a grown-up can be scary sometimes.

What should seem like an exciting time is often viewed with nervousness, uncertainty, and fear. Half of all mental illnesses begin by age 14. Roughly 30% of young adults struggle with a mental health disorder. Around 40% go untreated. Anxiety about being a grown-up isn’t as uncommon as it may seem. Times have changed, and with that evolution came more stressors and pressures. 

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Physical Manifestations of Anxiety: What are Anxiety Tics?

Anxiety is a mental health condition where you experience persistent worries daily. It seems like these worries are never-ending, where they interfere with your day and even your sleep. But have you experienced physical manifestations as a result of your anxiety? This is when your anxiety is no longer just mental but tells yourself and everyone else you know when you are anxious.

You may experience tics like a spasm in your arms, eyes, legs, or throat muscle when you are anxious. It could be a few days before these symptoms disappear. This is merely your body going into survival mode when you feel threatened. These anxiety tics can be hard to hide from others. If others point them out or you notice these tics, it is important to go into treatment for anxiety to gain more control over your life.

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AnxietyPathways To Wellness
5 Tips to Reduce Stress in Yourself and Others

It’s safe to say that the times we’re living in now are stressful for many, if not most, of us. The pandemic’s effects have been many. And, of course, life can be incredibly stressful whether or not a pandemic is in play. Employment or lack of it, health concerns, family demands, and so much more can weigh heavily on you.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, no matter the cause, it’s critical to take steps to reduce your stress. There are many helpful things you can do on your own. You can also consider reaching out to a therapist for telehealth sessions during this time.

As you learn how to reduce your own stress, you can also positively impact those around you.

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5 Safe Ways to Manage Anger During Quarantine

Do you find that you’ve been feeling more angry or frustrated in the last several months? Do you feel like the stress of life under quarantine is pushing you to the edge?

If you do, it’s understandable. After all, anger is a normal response when we experience considerable changes in our lives that are entirely out of our control. It takes time to adapt to significant changes in your routine and daily life. And some things naturally create more anger-inducing stress.

Massive amounts of time cooped up with your family — as much as you love them — can easily cause irritation and anger. Job loss, the loss of friends and family due to distance or death, and your regular life interruption are very frustrating. All of these changes may also lead to anxiety, which can manifest as anger.

But it’s essential to find a safe way to manage and discharge your anger to slow its effects or consequences. Fortunately, this is possible.

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AnxietyPathways To Wellness