Mental health problems are getting more serious among Malaysians today. One common phenomenon most Malaysians go through is anxiety. Jodi Picoult, an American writer says that anxiety is like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do but it doesn’t take you anywhere. I believe everyone goes through a certain amount of anxiety but some are always anxious and need help. It’s like they are fighting a war in their heads every day and that war drains them of all their energy. It has to be treated by someone qualified but there are certain strategies we can employ to stop anxiety from getting bad to worse. Everyone must remember that anxiety can be very disturbing. It can interfere with our daily activities such as relationships, school performance and work.
Try to be physically active. Avoid living a sedentary lifestyle. One must be disciplined enough to exercise regularly. It doesn’t mean that we must do strenuous exercises. Even going for walks will help. If you think doing activities alone is boring try playing some games with friends. You wouldn’t feel the tiredness if you enjoy the game. Being physically active is important for curbing anxiety as exercises will help the body release endorphins which is the happiness hormones. It will also facilitate the release of excess energy which will make one feel anxious.
Moreover, one can also try yoga or dance. Yoga has a long history of helping people curb anxiety. Anxiety makes a person tense and irritable while yoga will help to reverse such a feeling. Many studies have proved that yoga helps to reduce not only anxiety but also stress and depression. Some experts are of the opinion that although there is a lot of modern medication available to reduce anxiety yoga may even be better than taking medication. In addition to yoga, dancing can also help reduce anxiety. Today many gyms, have dance classes and sessions like Zumba and Classic dances. Dancing can also be energy-sapping and once again reduce excess energy that brings about anxiousness.
Listening to soothing music will also help in calming the nerves. It will create a balance in the mind and make one feel happy. In the same manner, music also lowers the body’s blood pressure. When a person is very anxious the blood pressure normally shoots up causing the person to have headaches or neck pain in addition to being drowsy. Music also brings down the level of the stress hormone cortisol and reduces your heart rate too. Experts also advise playing music at about 60 beats per minute. They say that this level is ideal for releasing the alpha waves that signal a relaxed and conscious mind.
Many people rear pets not just for the company but also for emotional support. Many studies have shown that just playing with them or stroking them will, just like music bring down the levels of cortisol which is a stress-related hormone. It is said to lower blood pressure as well. Many people today lead a lonely life. Connecting with pets will reduce loneliness and boost the mood. It also increases feelings of social support. In some countries, dogs are brought into hospitals and nursing homes to help reduce patients’ stress and anxiety. They say that dogs understand a person’s struggles against an illness and know how to attach to the person and be loving. The best thing is most animals are not very expensive to keep. You only need time to spend time with them. They will reciprocate by loving you back for all their life. There is this story. ” An elderly grandmother stayed with her son who had an expensive dog named Chang. The married son found the elderly mother to be a very difficult person to look after. So, he sends her to a nursing home quite far away. The next day their expensive dog was missing. The son and family were very worried because Chang cost them quite some money. They searched all over but all was in vain. Two days later they received a call from the nursing home saying their dog was there playing with the elderly lady who shared her food with the dog. It slept with her. They even told him they would like to keep Chang with them” The son realised Chang’s affection was a real reflection of what love is.
Watching positive movies and creating beautiful pictures will also reduce anxiety. Inspiring movies based on true events can make a person feel more cheerful, feel positive and optimistic. Inspiring movies also create positive pictures in one’s thoughts which creates a balance in the mind. Today there are many ways to watch movies. One need not go to a cinema. We can watch movies from the comfort of our homes on big screen television by subscribing to private movie channels like “Netflix” or “Astro”. The subscriptions are not very expensive and they have a big collection of movies. Colouring books and paintings have also proven to reduce anxiety. The accomplishment will uplift the mood and bring happiness by calming down the amygdala, the part of the brain that keeps people in panic and worries.
Finally, reading inspiring books or writing inspiring articles will help one relax and curb anxiety. It is said that reading can reduce anxiety by 68% so this habit can be a good hobby for anxious ones. At the same time, we can also improve our language as well as gain more knowledge by reading. If we buy books regularly, it may become an expensive affair but today it is possible to rent books. “Rent a book store” are available in most towns. There are books lovers who even travel hundreds of kilometres to bigger towns to borrow books. They make it a regular pastime and each time they borrow as many books as possible to reduce their frequency and costs. If you have a passion, you can also try writing. Today there are many online portals that accept articles and opinions for online posting purposes. They even pay you for your effort.
Anxiety disorder is a mental health issue. We can try common strategies mentioned in most health columns to curb anxiety. But, if it goes beyond the regular feeling of nervousness, panic and fear; and find it difficult to get through a day they should seek professional treatment. It should not be taken lightly as it can lead to more serious disorders like depression.
Palaniappan Karuppan is a content writer under Headliner by Newswav, a programme where content creators get to tell their unique stories through articles and at the same time monetize their content within the Newswav app.
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