Stress is a natural part of life. Whether it’s from a severe illness, a painful event, or your job, you can’t avoid it. Although doctors recommend medication and therapy to manage the condition, many people seek natural stress relievers. Pharmacist Cortney Bennett, shares her insights.
Before we dive into the techniques, it’s essential to understand what stress is and how it can impact your life.
What is stress?
While some people use the terms stress and anxiety interchangeably to describe their experiences, they’re different conditions. The former is a response (mental or physical) to external stimuli. It usually goes away when the cause ceases.
Stress may be positive or negative. A work deadline can motivate you to meet it or cause you to have sleepless nights.
Anxiety refers to your body’s reaction to stress, even when there isn’t an imminent threat. The feeling may persist, potentially interfering with your life. Finding natural ways to help with stress is critical to prevent it from affecting your well-being.
7 ways to lower stress
With many available strategies to reduce stress, finding those that work for you is essential, as every individual is unique.
There are many ways people manage stress. From exercise to medicine. These days, some even grow marijuana where it’s legal, choosing indica seeds for their relaxing benefits. It’s one of many simple remedies to help you reduce psychological tension.
It’s easy to experiment with most of these techniques, as they’re simple and inexpensive. Select the ones you’re comfortable with, so they become a part of your daily routine.
If your condition persists and begins adversely impacting your life and those around you, seek professional help immediately.
Photo by Elisa Ventur on Unsplash
1. Sleep
One of the most natural ways to release stress is to get proper sleep, as it’s a vital part of your health. Insufficient or poor-quality rest might:
- Cause stress
- Affects mental alertness
- Lower energy levels
- Resulting in poor health
Stress can be why you struggle to slumber, so it’s a vicious cycle. Improving your sleeping habits helps you ease your condition.
Incorporate these practices into your routine to get a good night’s rest:
- Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day
- Exercise regularly
- Get more sunlight, boosting the circadian rhythms that regulate slumber
- Avoid consuming alcohol and caffeine before bedtime
- Stop using electronic devices for at least 30-60 minutes before sleeping
- Meditate or use other methods to unwind in the evening
2. Exercise
Exercise is one of the best natural ways to relieve stress, as it helps you burn off nervous energy. Physical activity lowers cortisol and raises serotonin and endorphin levels, boosting your mood and reducing anxiety. People who work out also tend to have a more positive outlook.
You may exercise in many ways, such as walking, running, swimming, cycling, aerobics, going to the gym, or dancing. If your schedule can’t accommodate those, increase your physical activity by making these changes in your routine:
- Use the stairs instead of taking the elevator
- Park your car further away from your destination
- Ride your bike instead of driving
- Walk during your lunch break
3. Herbal teas
Besides drinking them for pleasure, many people consume herbal teas, claiming they have a calming effect and reduce stress.
These beverages contain multiple types of natural anti-inflammatory compounds that may protect your body from stress.
A 2016 randomized trial showed that chamomile extract markedly lowered symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD).
Some of the herbal teas that are natural ways to reduce stress include:
- Chamomile
- Lavender
- Peppermint
- Rosemary
- Rose
- Valerian root
4. Meditation
Meditation is a practice that dates back thousands of years. It offers many benefits, including developing inner peace and helping to clear unwanted stress.
Anyone can meditate as it’s simple and doesn’t require any equipment. It doesn’t cost much, and you can practice anytime and anywhere. Refocus your attention from disturbing stress-causing thoughts.
Some meditation methods include:
- Visualizing relaxing situations or places.
- Repeating mantras—words or phrases—to stop distracting thoughts.
- Focus on your experience, such as your breath. If you notice your thoughts and feelings, acknowledge them and let them pass.
5. Using cannabis
Many people use marijuana as one of the natural ways to combat stress. There are few published studies on THC’s stress-relieving effects because it’s difficult to obtain permission to research cannabis, a category 1 substance.
However, in a recent study, University of Illinois researchers reported that low levels of THC reduce stress. According to Emma Childs, an author of the study, higher doses had the opposite effect, emphasizing dosage importance.
If you’re thinking of cultivating your own stash, amnesia autoflower seeds are an excellent choice. They don’t require much attention, as they bloom when they mature.
6. Time management
Juggling work and family can raise your stress levels. Effectively managing your time helps you do what you want and need to do without pressure.
Among the natural stress relievers, time management is challenging, but it can lower your stress and make your life easier and more purposeful.
Factors that can help you effectively control your schedule include:
- Prioritizing tasks: List all the things to do for a day or week and categorize them. The number of activities won’t overwhelm you if you tackle them in terms of importance and urgency.
- Reducing procrastination: Avoid putting off difficult and unpleasant tasks, as it increases your stress.
- Saying no: Recognize what’s important and decide how to spend your limited time.
7. Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy uses essential oils for health and well-being, and various fragrances have unique effects on our bodies. Some scents improve moods, induce relaxation, and lower anxiety. Users claim that lavender calms the mind and relieves stress.
Other oils for anxiety include:
- ylang ylang
- Grapefruit
- Clary Sage
- Bergamot
Manage stress and live longer
Stress may be unavoidable, but learning to manage it minimizes its effects and prevents it from seriously affecting our lives.
If you prefer to avoid medication, incorporate natural remedies into your routine and improve the quality of your life.
Get quality sleep, exercise, meditate, manage time, use cannabis and aromatherapy, and drink herbal teas. Try one, try them all and see what works.
Main Photo Credit
References
Long-term chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) treatment for generalized anxiety disorder: A randomized clinical trial
Affiliations
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PMID: 27912875
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PMCID: PMC5646235
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DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2016.10.012
Low-dose THC can relieve stress; more does just the opposite: https://today.uic.edu/low-dose-thc-can-relieve-stress-more-does-just-the-opposite
About the author
Cortney Bennett
Cortney Bennett, a pharmacist at I49 Seed Bank, with 5+ years in the pharmacy field regarding cannabis. She constantly upgrades her knowledge and skills in the cannabis industry.
She has learned the characteristics of the different marijuana types and their effects on the human body in detail. Her constant thirst for knowledge allows her to stay up to date with all the latest research and discoveries in the cannabis field.
