If you suffer from anxiety or depression, you know how devastating these emotional health problems can be to your everyday life. While more severe occurrences of these conditions may require prescription medications to regulate, there are some things you can do to reduce the frequency and severity of the symptoms. The following guide outlines just a few ways you can enjoy better emotional health.
Your Diet Matters
You may not realize just how much the foods you eat affect your emotional health, but switching to a healthier diet will show you those benefits. Eating more plant-based foods (vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds) will give your body more nutrients to help your brain and body function better. Additionally, replacing sweets and other processed foods with natural foods will reduce your refined sugar intake. This will prevent you from experiencing unnatural energy spikes that result in sudden crashes that can lead to depressive episodes later in the day. Additionally, be sure to eat plenty of fermented foods (yogurt, sauerkraut, etc.) to help you add more probiotics to your gut. The helpful community of bacteria that lives in your gut thrives on probiotics, and nourishing those microbes helps your brain and gut communicate more effectively.
Be Mindful of Your Emotional State
Negative thoughts come and go randomly throughout every day and most people don’t realize how much energy is spent on them. It will take a conscious effort to banish these thoughts, but, by being more mindful, you can train your brain to adopt a more positive outlook. Starting in the morning, think of something positive to begin your day. This is important because the mood in which we awaken often influences how the rest of the day is perceived. Going forward throughout your day, try to be conscious of negative thoughts. As you experience one, reshape the thought into a positive one to change your perception. For instance, when you catch yourself thinking a meeting will go badly, tell yourself that you will perform well in the meeting. Repeat that positive thought over and over until you believe it.
Add Cannabis Oil to Your Diet
There’s anecdotal evidence that MCT CBD oil positively affects the mood when ingested on a regular basis. Manufacturers of this type of product have become adept at withdrawing THC from the oil, which means it won’t create the euphoric high that the cannabis plant also produces. A broad-spectrum CBD oil provides a natural treatment that can boost your mood and alleviate tension or anxiety. It’s derived from a natural plant, which means you won’t have to worry about the adverse side effects that prescription antidepressant drugs produce. You can also improve your digestive system by incorporating cannabis oil and CBD into your diet.
Practice Relaxation Techniques
Any activity that you find relaxing will help to alleviate the symptoms of depression and anxiety, so you should schedule time each day for these activities. One example of a relaxation technique is yoga, which is advantageous in that it also provides stimulation for your muscles. You can start out with simple poses and work your way up to more strenuous sessions that will help with developing greater strength and mobility. Some people meditate as they practice yoga, while others meditate separately to focus all of their thoughts on the meditative state. Either way, meditation can help you shift your attention. In this way, you’ll spend less time thinking about stressors or those external factors that may be contributing to your poor emotional state. After meditating for just a few minutes, you’ll feel refreshed, happier, and energized.
If you do feel emotionally unwell, you should also seek out professional help. While many people are reluctant to see a therapist, they find that the benefits are worthwhile once they do make that first step. A therapist can help you deal with past traumas, help you express your emotions in healthier ways, and ensure you live an emotionally well life.
Monika Wassermann is a doctor and a freelance writer based in the UK who lives with her cat Buddy. She writes across several verticals, including life, health, sex and love, relationships and fitness. Her three great loves are Victorian novels, Lebanese cuisine, and vintage markets. When she’s not writing, you can find her trying to meditate more, weightlifting, or wandering around in town.
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