Did you know anxiety is the most common mental health condition in Australia with a predicted 3 million Australians living with anxiety as we speak? Whilst the causes of anxiety vary from person to person a build-up of stress, whether in your personal or work life, is a common cause. So, if you are suffering from anxiety know that you are not alone and that there is a plethora of ways to alleviate mild anxiety symptoms. Here are some of our favourite anxiety-busting methods.

Hit the Mat and Practice Yoga

Yoga is a great exercise which focuses on breathing, stretching and relaxing. When practicing yoga, a mind-body connection is established through the combination of performing physical poses, mindful breathing and meditation. Yoga has been known to reduce stress and anxiety symptoms because it lowers the heart rate & blood pressure and additionally, removes stress which has built up deep within our muscles & joints. Conscious Culture Au has a great range of yoga mats to get you into the flow or if you are an experienced yogi, yoga props which will allow you to push your poses a little further. Visit https://consciouscultureau.com/collections/fitness to get everything you need to obtain the benefits of yoga.

Meditate

Meditation is a great way to relieve anxiety caused by stress. Studies have shown that those who meditate for as little as 10 minutes on a regular basis have reduced feelings of anxiousness, reduced feelings of stress and have been able to work through panic attacks. Creating a designated meditation space is great idea if you are looking to practice meditation regularly. You don’t need to designate to whole room, either a quiet corner inside or a spot outside is equally effective. If you are looking for ideas on how to personalise your meditation space and make it a place which inspires peace and tranquillity check out the mediation space décor range at https://consciouscultureau.com/collections/meditation-space-decor and for meditation cushions to allow you to sit comfortably check out  https://consciouscultureau.com/collections/meditation-seats

Maintain a healthy lifestyle

This includes healthy eating, exercising regularly, keeping hydrated, getting enough sleep and staying well away from smoking, caffeine, drugs & alcohol. If you want like to learn more about how maintaining a healthy lifestyle can improve feelings of anxiety check out this helpful article published on the Harvard Health Blog at https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/eating-well-to-help-manage-anxiety-your-questions-answered-2018031413460

Socialising and Confidence Building

The benefits of socialising in reducing anxiety are well known. Not only are you able to develop connections with other people or talk through your stressors & fears but socialising is also great for confidence building and it allows us to project our energy outwards instead of ruminating negative feelings inwards. Look for a group of positive individuals who allow you to feel validated and supported, if you unsure on where to start join groups based around interests such as fitness groups, reading groups or even painting classes.

Whilst these methods are extremely useful and are proven to lessen the symptoms of anxiety, they won’t work for everyone. So, if you feel like you need extra help don’t be afraid to chat with someone or to visit a mental health professional. If you want to read further on anxiety there is some great reading on the Mindful website at https://www.mindful.org/mindfulness-meditation-anxiety/

1 in 4 people have experience anxiety in their lifetime, please comment below about your experiences and methods you have found effective in reducing your anxiety symptoms.