3 ways to reduce anxiety & stress naturally

Do you struggle with symptoms related to anxiety and stress? I've got some ways to help with that!

I could tell you all about how it's super common, and link to all the statistics and sites that say it's becoming an epidemic of the modern age. But you already know this, so I'm not gonna waste your time or mine. Instead I'm just gonna get straight to the point - what can you do help reduce your own stress and anxiety?

1. Exercise - Yeah I know, you've heard this before - but it's true!  Exercise will not only increase endorphins and dopamine, but also make you tired so that you can actually sleep at night instead of worrying about everything under the sun. Not sure how to start exercising, or exercising more? Check out this post to get some tips on how to get and stay motivated to exercise. 
2. Qigong/Taiji/Tai Chi - Okay, first let's get some definitions down. Qigong (pronounced cheegong), for the purposes of this article, is tai chi. And Taiji is just another spelling. You see, Chinese uses characters instead of letters so when words get translated into English, often times they get multiple different spellings. Which leads to a lot of confusion, but really it's all the same thing. And yes, it's that stuff that you see old people doing in the park, because they know what's up and you should learn from your elders. Experience is a real thing y'all. But isn't this just another form of exercise? Nope! Tai Chi & Qigong are actually more like meditation and self healing wrapped up in a package that looks like exercise - but in reality it is so much more. These forms use the bodies innate knowledge to stretch the muscles and tendons, opening the channels allowing qi to move and rebalance throughout the body. All pathologies can boil down to qi getting stuck (or stagnating as we like to say) and causing an imbalance in the body. I know, it sounds a little out there, but there are plenty of studies showing the efficacy of qigong and tai chi in healing and healthcare. A couple articles from Harvard can be found here and here. Here are some comprehensive lists of research being done, as well as a meta analysis. It's a tremendously powerful medicine that is yours for the taking. Still unsure? Here's a video of one of the basic moves. Do this movement 15 times at 3 different points throughout the day and see how calm and centered it makes you feel! 
3. Talk About It! I recently had a patient come in and tell me that they think they have a pretty severe social anxiety disorder. Having worked with this patient for a number of months, it really struck me as odd. Sure, when they came in they were dealing with acute anxiety, but had really come through it to a place of ease using acupuncture, counseling, and psychiatry. I asked what symptoms they were having that made them feel like this was the case- and to be quite frank it sounded like normal social anxiety for a person that is generally a little shy. It can be hard for people who have struggled with severe depression, stress, and anxiety to recognize when they are just having a bad day, or having a normal anxious response to a social situation. Sometimes feelings like that can be a trigger in and of themselves, bringing back memories of severe anxiety attacks and making it feel like it's all about to happen again. Talking with someone can help us remember that this might not be true. That being anxious can sometimes be a natural part of being human. Speak to your friends about your feelings and make trusted companions your sounding board, a licensed professional counselor is also an invaluable tool.

​Stay healthy, friends!
​~The Red Raven