Just Breathe …

As we all learn to navigate life during these crazy times many of us are experiencing anxiousness or a feeling of being overwhelmed by the current situation. That’s because anxiety is part of the body’s natural defense mechanism and today we have a never ending list of items that cause anxiety and stress: working from home; furloughed from our job; kids who have transitioned to on-line school; relatives that we can’t see in person; etc.

Over the past few weeks we have seen an increased number of patients coming into the clinic for anxiety and stress. Patients often see results after just one acupuncture session, and results improve with continued treatment. Most patients also report that they sleep better and see an improvement in overall well-being.

There are also a number of self-care steps we can take between appointments to help us feel less stressed or anxious.

30 minutes of exercises a day can help relieve anxiety symptoms by releasing feel-good endorphins and other natural brain chemicals that can enhance your sense of well-being.

Practicing relaxation techniques such as mediation and yoga before bed will help you get a better nights sleep. Try using a mindfulness app such as Headspace or Calm for guided daily meditation.

We all know that we should eat a balanced diet but there are a number of foods that prevent anxiety and make us feel good. Food rich in antioxidants, B vitamins, tryptophan and omega 3 fatty acids nourish and protect the brain and elevate mood. On the other hand there are foods we should try and avoid or at the very least limit. Alcohol, caffeine refined sugar and saturated fats all have a negative effect on anxiety.

Essential oils can be beneficial for treating anxiety. Their powerful scents positively affect our emotions by up-lifting our mood and improving sleep, which will reduce anxiety. Lavender, bergamot, chamomile and orange essential oils all have an effect on calming nerves. Make an essential oil blend and then add a few drops to your diffuser or a warm bath. Also add them to a carrier oil and massage into your temples.

Self-care looks different for everybody, it just needs to be something that works for you. It isn’t selfish it’s essential to our wellbeing and a goes a long way to help alleviate our anxiety which in turn will be beneficial to all others we touch.

On Key

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