Natural and Supplemental Remedies for Managing Anxiety and Depression

Moving past any type of addiction can be extremely difficult. Unfortunately, your situation may also be exacerbated by feelings of anxiety or depression. As most recovering addicts realize, the level of stress, depression and anxiety that you feel can cause you to fall of the wagon if you do not take the proper steps to get everything under control. Although there is no magic cure for any of these issues, you can utilize several methods to help reduce them.

Top Tips for Reducing Depression, Stress and Anxiety

1. Supplements – Many supplements can help reduce everything from anxiety to stress. For example, people who have a vitamin D deficiency can become depressed, so it is a good idea for them to add a supplemental form of vitamin D to their daily routine. Several nootropics have also been shown to be effective for helping individuals manage social anxiety and depression. Some of the most potentially beneficial nootropics include Noopept, Aniracetam and Taurine.

2. Therapy – Psychotherapy involves discussing everything from your current feelings to the life choices that have led to your current circumstances. Additionally, this form of counseling is based around the idea of helping patients develop better coping tools so that they can step away from the shackles of depression. Psychotherapy is not easy, but anyone who is willing to put in the work is likely to receive positive results.

3. Exercise – Physicians and medical researchers have known for a long time that one of the absolute best ways to remove stress and alleviate the symptoms of mild depression is by exercising for 30 minutes per day; even something as simple as taking a walk can provide you with a huge mood boost and will enable you to keep working through your recovery process without feeling so encumbered by emotional problems.

4. Massage – Several studies have proven that getting a massage can reduce the body’s amount of cortisol, which is the stress hormone. Massage is also used for everything from pain management to treating insomnia. Interestingly, at least one study determined that people who are currently undergoing alcohol withdrawal can get through the process more quickly and effectively by incorporating massages into a detoxification program.

5. Reading – If your stress levels are higher than usual right now, it is a good idea to take at least six minutes out of your day and dedicate them to reading for pleasure. Researchers have determined that this can bring your stress levels down by 68 percent, which is actually a better reduction than people experience from taking a walk.

6. Listen to Music – The same study that analyzed the stress reducing properties of reading found that music can reduce stress by 61 percent. Keep in mind that it is best to listen to something calming, but you are most likely to get the best results by choosing a musical selection that you truly enjoy. In other words, if classical music bores you, then it is probably not the best choice. On the other hand, if you have an appreciation for classical, it may help you de-stress more than your favorite rock song.

Each of the previously listed tips can help you keep stress, anxiety and depression from becoming overwhelming, but you might need to utilize several of these options to make it easier to deal with your recovery. A good example would include taking nootropics, exercising, reading and listening to music on a daily basis, accompanied by weekly massage and psychotherapy sessions. Ultimately, your goal should be to make it as easy as possible to get through the most critical aspects of your recovery process. Make sure that you have a support network available at all times, and never be afraid to ask for help when you need it. Avoiding a backslide is the best way to get and stay sober, but never spend so much time dwelling on any perceived mistakes that you end up completely derailing the process. Keep moving forward at all times, and your recovery efforts will be a success!

Image by Bernard Goldbach via Flickr