Very calm at this time: 6 natural ways to relieve anxiety

1- Do self-massage

Adopt the do-in technique to calm down: with your fingertips at the highest point of the head, massage in circular motions in a clockwise direction, for three minutes. In acupuncture, this point is called the Abode of the Spirit. Therefore, it calms the spirit and mind, transmitting this feeling to the whole body, according to massage therapist and acupuncturist Robson Sérgio. Another option to reduce anxiety is the lobe massage, that lower and soft part of the ear. With the lobes between your index finger and thumb, massage the area for three minutes. According to auriculotherapy, each point on the ear corresponds to an organ and the lobe accesses the brain area linked to anxiety.

2- Use Bach flower remedies

To reduce anxiety, floral therapist and aromatherapist Andrea Darco recommends Rescue and White Chestnut flower remedies, which help to calm down and give more mental clarity. They must be prepared together in a compounding pharmacy, with a 10% alcoholic solution (30 ml bottle). In an anxious crisis, the therapist advises 4 drops every two hours for three days. Drip directly onto the tongue or dilute with a little water. Afterwards, maintain the same dose, but only four times a day, for a month. Bach flower remedies were created in the 1930s by physician Edward Bach, who discovered, through the vibration of certain native flowers, the energy needed to cure the “illnesses of the soul”, explains Andrea.

3- Res… pi… re!

Easy to recognize, one of the main signs of anxiety is accelerated breathing, very concentrated in the upper part of the chest, keeping shoulders and neck tense. The one warning is Aline Evelyn da Silva, a physical educator specializing in yoga. To slow down this process, she recommends taking a break, at least for two minutes, and practicing the following diaphragmatic breathing: sitting down and counting slowly to 4, take a deep breath through your nose until you feel your abdomen full of air. Then exhale, also through your nose, completely emptying your lungs and using your abdominal muscles again. Repeat this breathing technique a few times or whenever you feel very anxious.

4- Listen to relaxing music

There are several scientific studies proving the power of musical chords over our emotions. Recent research, using neuroimaging techniques, has shown that music can scale the activity of brain structures involved with emotions and can be used to treat psychiatric and neurological disorders. But beware, the music must be soft and relaxing, as it is the best way to combat anxiety. If you don’t have a CD of relaxing music at home, listen to Japanese calming music at this link (or search for others on the internet): http://bit.ly/1gkZO3u

5- Bet on aromatherapy

Use the power of essential oils in your home! The plant’s beneficial components send smell messages to the brain, acting therapeutically, according to specialist Andrea Darco. In the anxious crisis, the indicated oil is lavender. Add five to ten drops to the water from the electric or candle diffuser. The oil evaporates along with the water, perfumes the environment and you will soon feel more relaxed. Other oils that help reduce anxiety are marjoram, orange, lemon and frankincense. Attention: never apply essential oil directly to the skin, as it can cause undesirable reactions, warns Andrea. Also, do not confuse essential oil with essence, which brings well-being, but does not act therapeutically.

6 – Laugh

Medical studies reveal that laughing improves heart rate, as well as lowering anxiety and stress. The most interesting thing about this discovery is that the body reacts positively to laughter, even when it is not spontaneous, you know? The principle of laughter therapy is that, by forcing laughter, our body also releases endorphins, hormones responsible for well-being. Therefore, the business is to include funny phrases, movies and humor sites in your daily life. Also, turn your little mistakes into humor – in addition to relieving anxiety, your life is more fun!