Anxiety is one of the most common mental health diagnoses in the world, with over 6 million people affected annually. Everyone deals with some form of anxiety – from young children to executives at the Health & Safety Institute. For some, however, anxiety can be debilitating and requires professional treatment. In addition to treatment from medical professionals, there are remedies for moderate to severe anxiety that can be applied at home.

Some natural remedies for anxiety include:

Exercise

Exercise is one of the most effective ways to alleviate symptoms of anxiety as it releases serotonin in the brain, which is a chemical that essentially acts as a natural mood booster and stress reliever. If you suffer from anxiety, getting into the habit of working out a few times a week can be helpful. If exercise isn’t your thing, don’t worry! You can do simple exercises such as walking around your neighborhood or spending a little time on a stationary bike, both of which are shown to be effective workouts that will get your blood pumping and release positive chemicals in your brain.

Limit Alcohol and Caffeine

Alcohol and caffeine are two very different drugs, but the use of both often goes hand in hand with anxiety.

Alcohol is a depressant, and while it can temporarily provide a calming effect on the body and mind that quiets anxious thoughts, it can lead to worse anxiety in the future and can generally take a negative toll on your mental health.

Caffeine, on the other hand, is a stimulant. While many people with anxiety often struggle with sleeplessness and insomnia that might make it tempting to reach for a cup of coffee first thing in the morning, caffeine can make symptoms of anxiety such as shakiness and racing thoughts worse.

Meditate

One of the most effective ways to relieve anxiety is by practicing mindfulness, which can be done through various meditation techniques. This is helpful to stop racing or irrational thoughts and to help put yourself back in your body, allowing you to feel more in control of yourself and your thoughts. If you are new to meditation, don’t worry! There are plenty of helpful websites and apps such as Headspace that can guide you through the process and make meditating simple, so you can feel the positive effects of mindfulness with little to no effort.