How to relieve Stress and Anxiety Naturally

Stress is something everybody has to deal with and in certain situations it can be beneficial. Seeing a swarm of wasps causes stress that demands we "fight or flee." That reaction usually causes us to get out of the way, which is very good indeed. Moving to a better place can cause stress, but also reduces the stress of having lived in a bad place. We can learn good things from stress, such as what we should avoid, and what makes us happy.

The problem is poorly managed stress, especially negative stress. Mismanaged stress can cause a variety of emotional, behavioral and physical symptoms that vary by individuals. Some can include insomnia, muscle tension, headaches, digestive problems, fatigue, nervousness and anxiety, over or under eating, depression, loss of energy, mood swings and more. These symptoms can be caused by other physical problems as well but stress can greatly magnify even problems it doesn't initially cause.

People under stress tend to have a greater tendency to do unhealthy things like smoke, abuse alcohol and drugs, and eat badly. These behaviors can further increase the symptoms of stress and usually lead to a vicious cycle that only causes more problems.

The symptoms and consequences of stress can differ from person to person so it stands to reason that stress relief methods can vary too. We'll offer several here as well as resources to determine what methods may be best for you.

One of the best ways to manage stress it to exercise. Stress primes the body for action and regular exercise can turn down the production of chemicals that stress produces. Studies show that exercise is a natural and potent antidepressant, combats anxiety and helps people sleep.

Meditation has been used in a variety of societies for centuries to combat stress. One 20-30 minute session of meditation a day can have a great impact on stress and its consequences. You can read more about meditation here.

Drugs do no good with stress and can often make it worse or cause other underlying problems. In some cases where stress causes full blown psychiatric problems like clinical depression or post traumatic stress disorder (shell shock), some prescription drugs may be helpful enough to override their negatives. In general it is far better to manage stress personally and eliminate the cause instead of covering it up and forcing yourself to come back to it later.

A great way to combat stress is to take a break. A lunch break or any other kind of break should be a routine for everybody. It's best not to talk about work or other stressors at all during these times - that's why they're called breaks. Use time off to relax. Instead of loading yourself with caffeine on a coffee break, take a walk.

For people who need a little extra assistance dealing with stress, stress management counseling may help. Visiting a counselor does not mean you are crazy. It is simply another tool to help you reduce your stress and enhance your life.

Remember, stress is natural, and 99 times out of 100 you can handle it if you know how.

As Ellen Degeneres says: "All the commercials on TV today are for antidepressants, for Prozac or Paxil. And they get you right away. 'Are you sad? Do you get stressed, do you have anxiety?' Yes, I have all those things! I'm alive!"

Massage can release tension from muscles and relax the body and mind. In conjunction with aromatherapy, a good massage can completely relieve stress and tension. Massages can cost a lot of money though, so here are some ways to get the benefits from home without paying weekly fees.

Hydrotherapy uses water to massage and relax the body. You can turn your existing tub into a whirlpool, use a simple foot spa or use a fully featured whirlpool tub. There are other portable whirlpools and spas available as well.

Heat Therapy using using eye pillows, heat wraps, heating pads and paraffin wax systems can relieve the body with no effort on the user's part.

Personal Massagers bring massage home. You can use these yourself or have a friend hold them and get the benefits of a massage with one device. There are hand held models and foot massage available.

For professionals or those who want a table or other tools at home, there are a variety of affordable Massage Tables and Tools for beginners and experienced professionals.

To see all of these options, visit our Massage section.

Far Infrared is safe and penetrating and benefits the body in dozens of ways. Stress relief is just one benefit you can gain from far infrared. Others include increased circulation, detoxification and body cleansing.

Far Infrared Clothing includes gloves, kneepads, shoulder wraps, socks and other garments that give you far infrared therapy without any more effort than putting the item on.

Far Infrared Thermal Heat Blankets envelop you in far infrared and allow you to lie prone and relaxed while your muscles are soothed and your body is detoxified. Dome Saunas and Steamy Wonder Steam Canopies work in much the same way with more features.

Personal Portable Infrared Saunas provide an easy way to take a sauna in your home. These provide far more benefits than the steam sauna you might find at your gym and are easy to move and use.

There are a variety of other products available like far infrared heat pads, bedding, TDP mineral lamps and more. You can see all of them here: Far Infrared Therapy.

The emWave Personal Stress Reliever provides advanced mobile technology that will help you reduce the negative effects of stress, allowing you to experience greater health, more energy, and improved emotional and mental clarity.

It was developed from the Institute of HeartMath's 15 years of research on the relationship between the heart, brain, stress and emotions. The emWave is both innovative and practical. It enhances your life through scientifically validated technology, helping you reduce stress and gain a new sense of inner control any time...anywhere.

For more information, check out the emWave Personal Stress Reliever.

Inversion Therapy helps decompress the spine which can lead to relaxed muscles, reduce muscle spasms, and cause beneficial fluids to move better through the spinal column. The Total Back System is very popular because it allows the user to hang from the knees instead of causing excess stress on the ankles.

The Total Back System:

• Promotes flexibility
  
• Helps relieve pain
  
• Decompresses spine
  
• Reduces stress
  
• Increases strength

There are a variety of ways to get more exercise, simply and without paying gym fees. Many can be used for a short time daily in your home or office.

There are a number of Resistance Exercisers like the Resistance Chair, mini bikes, exercise bikes, elliptical trainers, ergometers, shoulder stretchers and others. You can see a full range of them here.

You can also use a variety of back relief tools to calm and manage stress and get a little exercise at the same time.

We have other information sources you can use to learn about stress relief. Our guide on Healthy Computing can show you how to work at your desk in a healthy way, which will reduce both pain and stress. You can learn about Body Detoxification and how a cleaner body can enhance your overall health. You can find more information on Personal Infrared Saunas. We have more in depth articles on Chi Swing Machines, The HomeSwimmer and Inversion Therapy. You can learn about Meditation and how to sleep better. You can also see how Steam Therapy can help.

For all of our articles check out our Lensography or the Promolife Learning Center.