5 Supplements To Soothe Stress and Ease Anxiety

Supplements

Stress and anxiety can take a major toll on your physical and mental well-being and adversely affect your overall quality of life. The good news is that, while there is no magic pill for mental disorders, there are healthy and natural ways to reduce the symptoms and achieve Zen-like calm. When you pair regular exercise, good eating habits and adequate sleep with the right supplements, you can effectively combat stress and enjoy a more carefree way of living.

5 Best Vitamins and Supplements for Stress and Anxiety

If you’re serious about combatting stress naturally, give the following five supplements a try. Though the names of some are difficult to pronounce, each comes with very real, proven benefits.

Melatonin

It’s no secret that a good night’s sleep is key to combatting the effects of stress and anxiety. Unfortunately, individuals who live with either know that good sleep is hard to come by. What’s more is that insufficient sleep can exacerbate the symptoms of stress and anxiety, creating a vicious cycle.

Several studies show that melatonin — which is a hormone the human body naturally produces to regulate sleep-wake cycles — improves the overall quality of sleep in individuals who have primary sleep disorders. Moreover, it helps to decrease the time it takes to fall asleep and increases total sleep time.

Rhodiola Rosea

If your stress stems from or causes chronic fatigue or burnout, rhodiola rosea may help. Rhodiola is a natural, non-toxic herb grown in the mountainous regions of Asia and Russia. It contains properties proven to stimulate the stress response system. Short and long-term studies show that 400 mg of rhodiola extract can help improve symptoms of chronic fatigue — such as issues with concentration, short-term memory and sleep — in as little as one week. As use continued, the symptoms continued to decline. A longer study revealed relief of symptoms such as irritability, exhaustion and anxiety.

Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha, or Withania somnifera, is an herb native to India, where citizens have been using it for its soothing properties for millennia. Like with rhodiola, ashwagandha is believed to enhance the body’s ability to resile physical and mental stress. Per one study, supplement with this herb resulted in reduced levels of anxiety, stress and depression, and even reduced morning cortisol levels by as much as 23%. The results of several other studies found that individuals who used the supplement regularly scored better on stress tests.

L-theanine

Though difficult to pronounce, L-theanine is actually quite common and found in many green teas. The amino acid is commonly touted for its ability to relieve stress and promote relaxation without causing any sedative effects. Moreover, a review of 21 studies reveals that drinking green tea with L-theanine correlates directly to improved memory and attention.

L-theanine is effective on its own, too. Per the findings of one study, supplementing 200 mg of the substance daily reduces common measures of stress, including heart rate.

Glycine

Glycine is another amino acid with stress-relieving effects. Studies show that glycine encourages a good night’s sleep by calming the brain and lowering the body’s core temperature. Findings from a few different studies reveal that just 3 grams of glycine before bedtime lead to increased awareness and decreased fatigue the next day and better overall quality of sleep.

The Bottom Line

Supplements are a great way to relieve the effects of stress and anxiety and reduce the frequency of attacks. If either impacts your overall quality of life, give one of the above five supplements a try.

4 Household Appliances That Can Lower Anxiety

Anxiety can put a damper on your day, week or even month, depending on how bad your attacks are and how frequently you experience them. As a result, you may be willing to do everything you can to prevent episodes from occurring, from wearing lavender in a locket around your neck to drinking stress relief tea like it’s water. Though there is some merit in natural remedies, you may find it more helpful to combat anxiety by eliminating your triggers. While you have little control over factors outside of your home, you can create a virtually trigger-free space in which you can relax and sip your herbal tea in peace.

So, where do you begin with creating such a space? With these four household appliances.

Robo Vacuum

Clutter and mess are two of the greatest sources of anxiety for men and women alike, as clutter signals to the brain that your work is never done. As a homemaker, however, mess and clutter can be doubly stressful, as you must find the time to tackle it. And when you can’t, you may feel like a failure.

Though a robot vacuum cannot put away the dirty laundry or pick up your spouse’s socks, it can keep your floors free of dirt, dust, pet dander and other dirty particles. It also makes vacuuming one less thing you have to worry about throughout the day, thereby easing your anxiety just ever so slightly.

Pet Camera

If you have a furry family member who must stay home alone for long stretches throughout the day, you may stress about his or her safety and comfort levels. Well, stress no more. A pet camera can allow you to keep an eye on your fur baby 24/7 and from anywhere with internet access. The stream goes directly to your phone, making it easy for you to keep tabs on your furry friends wherever you go.

Pet cameras are not all created equal. Some provide strictly remote monitoring capabilities. Others, however, let you talk to your pets while you’re away, and the more advanced ones even allow you to disperse treats at your leisure.

Smart Doorbells

Do you worry about what becomes of your mail and packages while you’re away? Does the sound of the doorbell trigger a flurry of anxiety as you wonder who is at the door? Do you constantly worry about whether your children made it off the school bus safely? A smart doorbell can give you the insight you crave by sending live footage of the goings-on of your front door and yard directly to your phone — and, in the process, ease your anxiety.

Smart Air Purifier

Research shows that air quality can affect mental health in people of all ages. Particularly, studies focus on the link between air pollution and stress and anxiety. Those studies found that individuals who live in environments with poor air quality have a high risk of developing severe anxiety and depression, despite the lack of any other indicators for mental illness.

If you or a loved one have recently been experiencing anxiety attacks for seemingly no reason, the air quality in your home may be bad. Consider purchasing a smart air purifier, which you can set to turn on and off as air quality changes or that you can control from your phone.

By adding a few small appliances and devices to your home, you can drastically reduce your anxiety levels and improve your quality of life. The four aforementioned appliances are small and inexpensive upgrades that can have a big impact.