Natural Ways to Calm Your Anxious Mind

If you're one of the millions of people who struggle with anxiety, you know how it controls your every moment.

Experiencing an episode of anxiety can feel like being imprisoned by your thoughts, weighed down in your own body, and feeling frantic for "no apparent reason."

Whether you've been diagnosed with anxiety or experience anxious thoughts from time to time, I want to share some of my favorite ways to soothe my worried mind when I'm feeling over-the-top anxious.

Note: This does not replace the opinion of your medical professional -- please seek help from your licensed medical professional if you're experiencing anxiety that you cannot control.

First, establishing a consistent meditation practice can help you feel less anxious and greater calm in your daily life. If you need help starting a meditation practice or deepening your existing practice, let me know!

1. Use this simple mindfulness exercise

Bring your full awareness to your feet on the floor or your hands in your lap. Your hands and feet are great access points when feeling anxiety. Notice how they feel, the air and temperature you feel, and the feeling of the floor. It’s a great way to get out of your head and anxious thoughts and into your body.

2. Take a minute to lie down

Grab a blanket and go outside -- lie down on the blanket and look up at the sky. Let the clouds wafting by help you clear your mind. Use each cloud as a symbol -- assign each cloud a worry and as it drifts by and out of sight, release your worry and use the ease of nature to clear your mind. If it’s too cold outside, take a moment just to imagine the worry clouds floating by. It’s a great way to destress!

3. Make time to relax

If you have 30 minutes you typically spend scrolling endlessly through social media newsfeeds, then you have time to schedule relaxation into your day. Find it in the form of meditation, yoga, or even massage. You’ll release the tension and feel wellness in mental and physical forms. Journaling is another wonderful way to de-stress and relax your mind as you get all of your thoughts out on paper.

4. Use lavender

Lavender is a very calming and soothing scent. Using a diffuser to let the aroma penetrate your space is one way to get the benefits from it. You can also dab a little on your collarbone or temples so that the scent is with you wherever you go. Sprinkle a drop on your pillow at night before you tuck yourself in bed, and drift off to sleep with the calming scent soothing you to sleep.

5. Breathe deep

Deep breathing exercises can help you take control of anxiety, especially when you're starting to feel out of control. Through your nose, breathe in for a count of 3. Hold it for a count of 1, and then release it through your nose again for a count of 5. This regulates your systems and naturally coaxes your body into a state of calmness.

Pick one or two of these tips to start implementing this week and see what difference it makes. Be sure to come back and tell me how it goes for you - I can't wait to hear!