Tag Archives: anxiety

We’re really anxious!

21 Friday Jun 2019

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How do I know? Because Google-searches for the word “anxiety” has more than doubled. You may need therapy to deal with your issues – but in the meantime, sniff fresh, crushed sage – or a cotton ball with a couple drops of sage essential oil. Researchers at Simmons College in Boston found the smell of sage cuts anxiety for up to 4 hours. That’s because its compounds boost production of brain chemicals that help regulate our mood.

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Improve thinking and focus by placing a plant on your desk.

19 Wednesday Jun 2019

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We’ve said before that having a plant on your desk can improve your thinking and focus. That’s because being within eyeshot of something from nature triggers the release of positive brain chemicals that make you feel refreshed and recharged. Well, there’s even more to it than that. By afternoon, indoor air pollution is at its peak. And according to Johns Hopkins University researchers, those chemicals increase brain inflammation – which produce feelings of anxiety. But if you have a plant on your desk, it’ll absorb the pollutants and pump out oxygen, which can leave you feeling calmer. And one of the best plants you can get is a spider plant. It thrives indoors – is hard to kill – and within 24 hours, it’ll soak up 87% of airborne pollutants in the immediate area. And not just carbon dioxide. It’ll eliminate dangerous volatile organic compounds – like benzene, ozone, and formaldehyde – that are emitted by plastic, fabric, computer printers, and cleaning solvents.

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Are you looking for a great way to relax?

03 Monday Jun 2019

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Do you have a hammock, porch swing, or rocking chair? Use them! According to the University of Rochester, that’s a proven way to relax… even if you’re totally stressed. It can also relieve aches and pains caused by tension. It goes back to when we were babies because being gently rocked releases calming brain chemicals that act like pain-relieving antidepressants. Rocking can even improve sleep by boosting production of brain-calming neurotransmitters which reduce anxious thinking, the same way anti-anxiety drugs help prime you for sleep.

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Having a lousy day at work?

20 Monday May 2019

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It could be due to the lousy, depressing news you watched last night! Researchers found negative media stories increase stress levels – especially among women – and make us more anxious during future nerve-wracking events… like an upcoming face-to-face with the boss. So experts say to skip the negative news at night – and watch a “Friends” rerun instead.

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Look at nature for stress relief

08 Wednesday May 2019

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For years we’ve been talking about how looking at nature relieves stress. Well, now a certain segment of the population is going to reap those benefits, too: Prisoners!

According to the American Psychological Association, inmates who watch nature videos have fewer violent outbursts and fewer negative emotions like distress, aggression, and nervousness.

But you don’t need to be a felon to reap the stress-relieving benefits. Studies have shown having a view of trees and greenery, or even seeing a picture of nature on a computer, can lower blood pressure, and reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety.

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What carbonated beverage do you choose when flying?

19 Friday Apr 2019

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Why are people more likely to order ginger ale on a plane than on the ground? Some people think that’s because ginger is known to relieve nausea, like from motion sickness or anxiety. But the ginger ale on planes doesn’t contain any ginger… or if it does, it’s trace amounts of ginger concentrate for flavoring. So it’s not providing the medicinal benefits. So why pick ginger ale?

It’s more likely the placebo effect at work. We THINK it’s going to make us feel better, so it does. But really, ANY carbonated drink would make us feel better. Because, according to neurobiologist Dr. E. Carstens from UC Davis, when the carbon dioxide bubbles pop on your tongue, they react with an enzyme on your taste buds and create carbonic acid. Like most acids, the carbonic acid hurts a little, but it’s a good hurt because it makes your brain release feel-good endorphins.

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Ice cream calms anxiety!

22 Friday Mar 2019

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Registered dietician Kristen Smith says one serving of ice cream provides 10% of the calcium we need daily. And calcium is proven to reduce tension and anxiety. Plus, the fat in ice cream helps our body absorb minerals and nutrients that help regulate mood. Which is why people who eat full-fat foods have lower rates of depression than people on low-fat diets. So how much ice cream can we have daily? One half-cup. That’s about the size of a tennis ball. If you’re watching your calories, get slow-churned ice cream. It contains more air, which means fewer calories per serving.

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Are cigarettes relaxing?

26 Wednesday Dec 2018

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A lot of smokers reach for a cigarette to calm their nerves, but actually, the opposite is happening. And smokers who quit have less anxiety, depression and stress. That’s according to the British Medical Journal. In fact, smokers who quit get a mood boost that’s equivalent to taking antidepressants!

So why do smokers think cigarettes relax them? Because they interpret their withdrawal symptoms as stress. And those symptoms can come on after only a couple hours without a smoke. Then, once they light up again, those withdrawal symptoms go away. But within 6 weeks of quitting, ex-smokers experience a significant improvement in mental health.

If you’re a smoker, maybe it’s time to give up smoking for 2019.

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Here’s a 10-second fix for anxiety.

04 Tuesday Dec 2018

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Clinical psychologist Vaile Wright says try thinking of, or writing down, as many ice cream flavors as you can in 10-seconds. The technique, called “grounding,” takes your mind off your worries, and grounds you in the present. Dr. Wright says it frees your mind from overwhelming and unhealthy thoughts. And by using ice cream, instead of, say, foreign countries, it produces positive feelings of comfort and nostalgia.

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Feeling anxious and scattered?

25 Tuesday Sep 2018

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Try sniffing some fresh, crushed sage – or a cotton ball with a couple drops of sage essential oil. Research in the UK shows the smell of sage reduces anxiety and improves focus for up to 4 hours. That’s because compounds in the herb help prevent the depletion of brain neurotransmitters that impact mood, memory recall, and attention span – and can improve thinking and short-term memory in as little as 60 minutes. In fact, the researchers believe that regularly smelling the fragrance of sage can help fight off age-related mental decline.

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