Our top 3 tips for reducing high anxiety levels.
1 - Reduce caffeinated beverages.
Having too many coffees, teas, or energy drinks throughout the day can really increase anxiety! Did you know that the wakefulness you feel after consuming coffee is actually an adrenaline surge? Considering that anxiety is an activation of your fight or flight response, you may find that your anxiety levels decrease as you decrease your caffeine consumption.
2 - Deep diaphragmatic breaths.
Deep diaphragmatic breathing helps to reduce anxiety by activating your body’s relaxation responses and helping to lower the cortisol response to stress. Try taking a breath in through the nose for 4 seconds and letting it flow deep into your belly and expanding it. Then, hold for 1 or 2 seconds, and exhale slowly for 4 seconds out your mouth.
3 - Relaxing facial and jaw tension
Clenching or grinding teeth is a common unconscious habit that many people do under stress. This constant clenching can cause pain in your TMJ, which then could develop into headaches and/or neck pain (not great if you’re already stressed!). There are many solutions to this though. Our Chiropractors treat TMJ dysfunction every day! If you’re struggling with TMJ pain, we would love to see you for an assessment.