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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – You might know this feeling: Your day is going great. You woke up five minutes before your alarm, you ate a super healthy breakfast, and your hair looks great today. Work is going smoothly, and at lunch, you have a moment to scroll through your phone and catch up with what your friends are doing. Maybe you go to a social media account. But before you know it, you’re reading news article after news article, and now your future–which up until this moment was looking pretty bright, if you don’t mind saying so yourself–begins to careen out of balance. Your heart starts trying to beat a hole in your chest, your vision gets blurry, your breathing is labored, and your feet start sweating.
Sound familiar? Unfortunately, news-related anxiety is becoming a commonplace occurrence. And if you found any comfort in the fact that most of the people you know are suffering from this type of anxiety, you would be the happiest person on earth. But it’s not enough to know that your loved ones are worried too–is it? That doesn’t solve the coronavirus or the unemployment levels or the issues of racism and injustice or the deployment of the National Guard. It would be nice if it did, but it doesn’t. On the other hand, here are a few things you can do that should have more of an immediate impact on your anxiety.
Download One of These Four Apps Right Now
Before you really even think about it, download one of the following apps on your smartphone: Calm, Headspace, Insight Timer, or 10% Happier. This isn’t an endorsement of any particular mindfulness app; those are just the “big four.” And that’s right, you’re going to meditate. In fact, if you’re at work and can slip away into an unused room for five minutes, you should do so and play the first introductory meditation on the app you just downloaded. If you’re at home, even better. It’s okay if it isn’t even all that quiet where you are, although it might help on your first time out. However, you could probably even do this with headphones in a stall in the restroom. You don’t have to start a lifelong habit of meditation, and you don’t have to convert to Buddhism. All you have to do is breathe for a few minutes while somebody talks into your ear. And the truth is you’ll probably feel massively better after just three to five minutes.
Try a Natural “Remedy”
For hundreds, if not thousands, of years, humans (and some insects) have turned to alcohol when they needed to change the proverbial channel. Unfortunately, alcohol is a depressant. It certainly doesn’t provide long-term help for anxiety, least of all when you sober up afterwards. People who suffer from anxiety often report that they notice more anxiety the day after drinking. Many people today are turning to natural alternatives like CBD, also known as cannabidiol; another popular herb for stress management is an extract of a leaf called kratom. You can buy kratom and CBD products online, and it might not hurt to do a little research in that department to see if either would be right for you.
Turn to a Loved One
As humans, we’re a social species. Sometimes the greatest comfort in the world can be found when we unburden ourselves to a close friend, a family member, or a significant other. Many of us know of someone in our social circle who seems to know how to make us feel better, no matter what we’re going through. Call that person, or text them, or–if you can, safely–stop by for a visit and a hug. You might even find that just thinking about that person–picturing their face, remembering what their voice sounds like, and imaging their reassuring touch–is enough to make you start to feel better already.