Before you say anything, yes I know this is a video gaming blog, but anxiety has been a large part of my entire life as much as video games have, and games have often been great relief to me throughout the years, which I’ll cover. But you, dear reader, may not like video games, but you or someone you know might still suffer anxiety. As a matter of fact, 40 million adults in the US alone age 18 or above suffer from anxiety disorders, 36% of whom are never aware they have anxiety issues and/or never get treatment, despite being easily treatable. So there’s a good chance you might in-fact suffer anxiety attacks.

Anxiety attacks come in many types, but often share the same symptoms. Personally I suffer from panic disorder and panic attacks. What exactly is a panic/anxiety attack? If you’ve never had one it may be hard to understand or imagine. Panic attacks can often resemble much worse health problems, like a heart attack. You might feel short of breath, dizzy, confused, have a pounding heartbeat, nausea, indigestion, chest pain, etc. The most noticable symptom, however, is crippling fear. It feels like you’re experiencing your last moments, like your heart might stop and you’re close to death. It may even feel like you’re going insane, and the worst part is it can happen anywhere at any time.




The good news is, you’re not going insane, or even in any real danger. Most people who suffer anxiety are in pique physical condition as a matter of fact, so physically panic and anxiety attacks aren’t really something to actually panic over, though they can severely cripple your social life if you begin avoiding places to try and stop them from happening. It’s my intention today dear reader to give you easily available home remedies and advice for you or someone you know, to keep you from going crazy. Really though, you’re fine, I promise.

1. Avoid Stressful Situations and Environments



“THE SODA MACHINE AROUND THE CORNER ATE MY FIVE AND IT’S ALL YOUR GODDAMN FAULT JERRY!”


“Duh!” you might think to yourself, but in all seriousness stress is like rocket fuel for anxiety. Parents or siblings that fight/yell, jealous pets that fight, cursing, shouting, even Youtube videos where the content creator yells for giggles can be a negative impact on your mental health. Toxic environments are everywhere, from public schools rife with bullying to workplaces where the emplyer has a vein pop out on their forehead whenever profits dip by a nickel. In these types of situations it’s always best to avoid it entirely, leave the kids with a sitter and go spend a week in a wood cabin or go hiking on a nature trail. Negativity nurtures anxiety, so if you happen to know a Negative Nancy, get out from under her raincloud ASAP.

2. Spirituality, Meditation and/or Prayer



Ooooohhhhmmmm...


Some of you may already be spiritual, some of you may be hardcore atheists. Either way, one easy way onto the path to inner peace is a nice quiet session of self reflection. Even atheists can be spiritual, one needn’t believe in God(s) to believe in the concept of the soul or practice zen yoga. We often don’t realise it but negativity isn’t always on the outside pushing in, quite the contrary. Did someone say something that made you mad, like, really want to feed them their own teeth kind of mad? Find a quiet spot, sit down and reflect on it, forgive that person. You’ll be surprised how much tension will just melt away. Christ preached forgiveness and love, and the same is true for most religions. “Holding on to hatred is like drinking poison and expecting another person to die” as the wise Buddha once said. Employing a more positive outlook on life can and will help anxiety symptoms.



3. Chamomile Tea and Overall Better Diet



If you’re like me and you’re packing around a load of extra cottage cheese, you might already find difficulty breathing by doing something as simple as walking to your mailbox. Obesity is bad for you regardless, but it can exacerbate certain symptoms such as indigestion, which can exacerbate other symptoms like shortness of breath as bloating and gas can interfere with proper function of your diaphragm.


Pizza might be the best thing ever, but it’s greasy and that grease will more than likely make you sick, which will lead to an attack. Take on a healthier diet, swap out pork for deer meat or poultry and fish. Have a salad instead of that sodium-rich can of chunky soup. Drink some flavored water instead of a sugary soda.

Care for a spot of tea ol’ chap?


Even better than water are chamomile and hibiscus teas. Both flowers have anti-anxiety properties, but they also have a mind-melting myriad of other benefits, like reducing the risk for cancer, building up weaker immune systems, soothing a sore throat, promoting heart health and much more. Add a tablespoon or two of pure dark honey as a natural sweetener and some freshly-squeezed lemon juice for even more super antioxidant benefits. It tastes pretty good too!

If you’re new to tea and have no clue where to start, Celestial Seasonings has a great selection of all kinds of tea which are affordable by the box, eco-friendly and taste really good! They also have various herbal and green teas that act as a sleep aid if you have trouble sleeping.




Please note, if you have plant allergies it would be best to check and see if you’re allergic to the plant families chamomile and hibiscus are from. Hibiscus is in the same plant family as okra and cotton, for example. Also note that while honey is packed with antioxidants and therefore a healthier alternative to pure granulated sugar, honey still contains 14 grams of sugar per tablespoon, so diabetics should consume it with caution.

In addition, don’t skip breakfast! As it happens, eggs contain a chemical known as choline that can help in treating anxiety. Just be sure to swap out regular bacon for turkey bacon, and cut back on your sodium intake to help with the heart palpitations. If you use canned goods a lot, look for labels with ‘no added salt.’ Cut back on red meat, but don’t cut it out completely as it can help restore your red blood cells, and if you can get your meat as fresh as possible because processed meats often contain carcinogenic(cancer-causing) chemicals.


4. That Not-So-Darned Cat



DAWWWWWWW <3


Dogs may be man’s best friend, but it may surprise you that cats can cure. Recent studies have shown that petting a purring cat can not only relieve stress and anxiety symptoms, but even reduce the risk of heart attack by as much as 40%. In addition to being beneficial to your health, a kitty kills pests like rats and roaches reducing the need for costly traps and sprays, and they’re miraculously easy to house train since all you need is a litter box. Since cats are less energetic than dogs, they’re also great for a cuddle at bedtime or a bit of company if they nap in your lap while you binge your favorite Netflix show. Plus they’re just so darned cute!

5. Excercise and Outgoing



Do you even jazzercise bro?


Calling back to my mention of obesity, excercise can not only keep off the weight but keep the anxiety away. It doesn’t even need to be weight-lifting, aerobics, cardio or crunches, a simple thirty-minute walk through the countryside can do wonders. It’s also good to note that you should get out of the house and don’t distance yourself from friends. Go out to the park, to a carnival, to the arcade, to the gym or even jogging down the block. If you like dining out, go to a hibachi restaurant. Not only is it good soul food that is good for you, it’s a great way to meet people and the food is cooked fresh right in front of you on a grill. Grocery shopping is also a great way to get in walking if you’re the type of person who enjoys it.

6. Ask Your Doctor to Check Your Thyroid




Many of the body’s glands produce horomones that are necessary for proper bodily functions. The thyroid is one such gland. Though unfortunately like any machine, some parts might malfuction, and a thyroid that makes too much horomone(hyperthyroidism) contributes to anxiety. Thus if you suffer anxiety/panic attacks, it might be a good idea to ask your doctor to check your thyroid. If it happens that your thyroid is overproducing, a simple perscription could be the only thing between you and relaxation.

7. Aromatherapy



Roses are red, violets are blue, unlike them lavender can heal you.


Tea isn’t the only thing a flower is great for. A member of t he mint family, the scent of the lavender plant has been used in aromatherapy for generations and has been used to treat many mental illnesses throughout the centuries. If you happen to be Christian, there’s an old legend that lavender didn’t have a scent until Mary laid Christ’s laundry out upon them to dry. I’m inclined to believe it since a good whiff of lavender every once in a while definitely makes me feel peaceful. The best way to utilize the flower is by simply growing fresh lavender in your home or garden, but if you don’t have a green thumb you can purchase vials of lavender essential oils which are a concentrated extract of the plant’s oils. If you’re a high fantasy geek like myself pretend it’s an alchemical mana potion, just don’t drink it, lavender essential oils are actually poisonous if ingested.



Please note that skin contact of the oil can potentially damage/stain the skin via allergic reaction and most people will react to the smell of the oil differently. Consult with your doctor if you aren’t sure. As for how to use the oil, add a drop down an AC vent to let the scent spread through your home, put a drop or two on a napkin and place it in a place that gets a lot of thru traffic, or do the expenive thing and buy a diffuser. A fan diffuser is more effective than a heat diffuser.


8. Take Up a Hobby



If you dunno what mine is you either lack reading comprehension or have a terrible memory.


One easy way for anxiety to get worse is a lack of purpose or focus. Without something to focus on your mind wanders, and anxiety makes us think of the worst-case scenerio. The solution? Take up a hobby! I’m a gamer and video games have been a huge part of my life for years, they’ve let me escape the world when it was at its worst. If you’re a gamer too, I recommend more non-violent games. Board games, The Sims, SimCity or Cities: Skylines, Minecraft, Katamari Damacy, Okami, anything relaxing that you can kick back with and be creative.

If you’re not a gamer, take something up. Reading is a popular hobby. Try collecting something, like stamps or pressed flowers. Become a writer. Had this cool idea for a place and characters? Write it out and bring it to life, or if you’re more skilled with a brush, paint it! Any outlet where we can freely express ourselves is always a great way to relax.


9. Control Your Breathing




One major side effect of panic disorder and general anxiety disorder is hyperventilation, which is responsible for the shortness of breath you feel. When your heart rate picks up, you breathe faster to try and compensate, making it impossible to actually get air in or out, which in turn lowers carbon dioxide levels in your blood stream exacerbating the situation. Learning to control your breathing can help you beat the symptoms and drastically shorten the duration of an attack.

Hug a pillow or stuffed animal, then slowly inhale through the nose, then exhale through the mouth. If you don’t have anything to hug, fold your arms across your chest. If you’re standing, try and find a place to sit down and relax.




Try using the paper bag technique to control your breaths. Hold a small paper bag over your nose and mouth and take 6-12 easy natural breaths. Take off the bag and respire deeply.

Tai Chi is the best recommended exercise for hyperventilation. Yoga Pranayamas breathing exercises are also good in this regard.


10. Keep Warm

Baby it’s cold outside!


Our bodies often associate warmth with safety, so keeping warm is a great way to help combat anxiety. Slip on a snuggie or under a blanket, wrap your hands around a hot mug of herbal tea or hot cocoa, or have a seat next to the fireplace and enjoy a nice hot bowl of soup. If you’ve got a cat, cradle him in your arms or let him curl up next to your feet at night to keep them nice and toasty. Or if you’ve got a significant other, spoon up under the covers on a cold night for a good night’s sleep.

Conclusion



And there you have it friends, ten easy solutions to a very scary problem. These are all methods I’ve tried myself and speaking from experience as someone who suffers from panic disorder I hope these home remedies work as well for you as they have for me. Panic attacks are the worst, I wouldn’t wish them on my worst enemy, and I hope by writing this article I’ve helped some of you. Take care, and be free of stress!

