Approximately 8 million people in the UK have some form of an anxiety disorder and some consider it to be one of the most common psychiatric disorders across the globe.All of us experience some sort of nervousness at various points in our lives. Whether it’s about the arrival of a new baby, an important meeting, upcoming nuptials or even fun things like visiting theme parks or watching horror films. However, anxiety is different in that it is a more severe and often debilitating disorder that impacts people’s ability to lead normal lives.
Symptoms of anxiety
Anxiety can take many different forms and it varies from person to person. Symptoms of anxiety can be both mental and physical and can include:
Feeling nervous, restless or tense
Having a sense of impending danger, panic or doom
Having an increased heart rate
Breathing rapidly (hyperventilation)
Sweating
Stomach pains and nausea
Trembling
Feeling weak or tired
Insomnia
Trouble concentrating or thinking about anything other than the present worry
Coping mechanisms for anxiety
There are various ways of dealing with anxiety and it’s important to find the one that works best for you. Here are some effective coping mechanisms for anxiety.
Meditation
Meditation is a great short term coping mechanism for helping to relieve symptoms of anxiety. Meditating gives you a deep state of relaxation and a tranquil mind which can help focus your attention and quieten overwhelming anxious thoughts. If you’re experiencing an anxiety attack, there’s also something called the 3-3-3 rule you can try which is a type of meditation. You look around you and name three things you see. Then, name three sounds you hear. Finally, move three parts of your body.
CBT therapy
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is a long-term coping mechanism for anxiety. It works by helping you make sense of overwhelming problems that make you feel anxious by breaking them down into smaller parts, and aims to stop negative cycles. CBT can help you change your negative thought patterns and improve the way you feel to help relieve symptoms of anxiety.
Reducing alcohol consumption
Alcohol can be a major trigger for anxiety. We’ve all experienced the “beer fear” after a night of drinking and why we may laugh it off as just a sign that we’re hungover, alcohol is actually a depressant which affects the brain's natural level of happiness chemicals like serotonin and dopamine. If you already suffer from anxiety issues then alcohol will only make it worse.
Anxiety supplements
There are certain supplements you can take for anxiety and depression. Research suggests that certain dietary supplements may help reduce anxiety symptoms, including magnesium, vitamin D, saffron, omega-3s, chamomile, L-theanine, vitamin C, curcumin, CBD, and multivitamins.Because our NAD+ Optima Max supplements are made from pure NAD+ they’re an effective supplement to help relieve anxiety symptoms. Research has shown NAD+ to be highly effective in elevating mood and reversing feelings of depression and anxiety. It also works to replenish the neurotransmitters which have been depleted because of the constant state of activation of the nervous system and body caused by anxiety.
