Alternative Therapies For Stress & Anxiety

Anxiety is a natural response to stress. Whether you’re starting a new job or moving to another town, it all has an effect on your stress receptors. According to ADAA, 6.8 million adults have a generalized anxiety disorder in the US.

Depending on the type of stressors, you may feel more anxiety than with others. While there may be many therapy options available, finding the right one for you is crucial to fight off stress and tension.

If you’d prefer trying alternative and more natural therapies for stress and anxiety, then you’re in the right place.

Below, we’ve listed some of the most effective therapies today. Some of them have been used for centuries and even millennia.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is an internationally practiced technique to help with relaxation, wellness promotion, and as treatment for certain health conditions.

Acupuncture is the process of placing thin needles into specific areas of your body. Your practitioner will ask you about your symptoms to determine which areas to place the needles. Not to worry, this process causes very little discomfort.

While the needles are inserted, your practitioner performs needle manipulation by moving or twirling the needle. Oftentimes heat will also be applied. All you need to do is relax for 10 to 15 minutes until the needles are taken out.

While acupuncture may not work for everyone, some people have reported feeling energized, while others feel more relaxed.

Meditation

With the great effects that meditation has on reducing stress and anxiety, it’s no wonder that it’s a popular choice among the working class today. But what is it and how does it work?

Meditation is the process of focusing and redirecting your thoughts for a period of time. This method helps to increase awareness of yourself and your surroundings and improve concentration.

During the meditation process, paying attention to our breathing is crucial to staying in the moment. When the mind wanders, we need to gently bring it back to focus on our breaths. This helps build the muscles of attention and mindfulness.

Yoga

Like meditation, yoga is a global phenomenon to help us reduce stress and anxiety. It’s actually an ancient practice that goes back thousands of years.

Yoga focuses on uniting our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects. It helps us with self-healing and body health. Using different poses helps us to experience deep states of freedom, peace, and self-realization.

While stress can show in various ways from neck pain to sleep issues, yoga aims to develop coping skills. With the added meditation element, you’ll enjoy the experience of mental clarity and calmness.

As a bonus, yoga is also a great exercise for reducing obesity. So you’ll be feeling great in no time.

Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is a holistic healing treatment that has been used by Ancient cultures in Egypt, India, and China for religious purposes. It has also gained more recognition in the fields of science and medicine.

Aromatherapy makes use of aromatic essential oils to improve one’s body, mind, and spirit. It’s widely used as it’s believed to have physical and psychological benefits.

Using various products such as diffused and spitzers, aromatherapy works through the sense of smell and skin absorption. Each essential oil has unique healing properties, uses, and effects. So choosing the right oil for your stress and anxiety is essential.

Reiki

“Reiki” is Japanese for “mysterious atmosphere”. It’s a type of energy healing therapy that aims to release energy that has built up from physical and emotional pain.

In a private, and peaceful setting, you’ll be seated in a chair or lie on a table. The practitioner will place their hands lightly on specific areas of your head, torso, and limbs for about 3 -10 minutes.

Many people have experienced warm or tingling sensations. This feeling is the transfer of energy to you.

Reiki aids in the relaxation, and aids the body in its natural healing process. It’s also said to be great for your emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being.

Music Therapy

Famous actor, Johnny Depp, once said: “Music touches us emotionally, where words alone can’t.” This couldn’t be true.

Music has a powerful and complex effect on our minds. Different styles can have different impacts. Pitch, tempo, and melody are all processed in different areas of our brains, and can even stimulate physical signs of pleasure, like goosebumps.

In music therapy, your responses and connections to music are used to encourage positive mood and well-being changes. It evokes positive emotions that help us to reduce stress and anxiety, no matter if you’re making music, singing, dancing, or just listening.

Herbal Treatments

Many people turn to herbal treatments to avoid the side effects of anxiety medication, especially if the symptoms are moderate.  This treatment has been used to reduce mental health symptoms for centuries.

Herbal treatments use medicinal plants to support optimal health. They come in a variety of forms such as teas and supplements. Chamomile herbal teas have grown in popularity to help ease anxiety and promote a good night’s sleep.

While research has proven the benefits of herbal medication, you need to consult with your healthcare provider first. This is to avoid any potential interactions with other medications and conditions.