7 Tips to Combat Stress & Anxiety

Our body is constantly dealing with different stressors in our life – from physical to mental to emotional stress. Not getting enough sleep? A type of stress. Balancing multiple projects at work? Also stress. Losing a close friend or family member? Definitely stress. On top of our regular life stresses, current events right now only add to the amount of stress people need to deal with on a daily basis. But what is the difference between stress and anxiety?

Stress is our body’s fight or flight response; we respond to the threat by releasing stress hormones, adrenaline and cortisol. Our heart beats faster and our body gets ready to fight or take action.

Anxiety has many of the same physical responses as stress; however, the difference is that the stress becomes repetitive worries that keep circling in a loop in our brains. You may feel triggered by certain events or past experiences that lead to anxiety. Anxiety that goes on for too long can turn into depression.

Here are 7 ways to cope with stress and anxiety:

1. Exercise and eat well. Being active is one of the best ways to combat stress and anxiety. By eating whole, nutrient-dense foods and working out a few times each week can go a long way for your emotions. Studies show that working out reduces anxieties and produces endorphins.                                                                                                                  
2. Develop personal mantras. Having mantras to repeat to yourself during times of stress can be really helpful in staying in the moment. Mantras like, “I can do this” or “Breathe” can really help in times where you feel overwhelmed by stress.      
3. Keep an anxiety journal. An anxiety journal is not just about writing your anxieties in your journal, but rather, setting aside a specific time just for those worries.
4. Be in nature. Being engrossed in nature has shown to decrease stress and anxieties. Go for a hike, take a walk in the woods, or go swim in a lake.
5. Seek professional help. Talk therapy is one of the most effective ways to combat negative thoughts and emotions. Find a therapist who can help you deal with any anxieties and the skills you need to combat them on a daily basis.
6. IV hydration therapy. IV hydration therapy used to be for those who were sick and couldn’t take in enough fluids, but now, even athletes use it to hydrate after a competition. Getting enough hydration and vitamins lost can help with stress, since during stress you generally don’t take in enough liquids.
7. Ketamine Infusions. Ketamine infusions is an effective way to fight anxiety and depression when all other treatment options failed to work. Many report an alleviation of depression symptoms in as little as 1-2 infusions.

Contact Evansville Ketamine Treatment Center