“People say, ‘I’m going to sleep now,’ as if it were nothing,” George Carlin once said. “But it’s really a bizarre activity. ‘For the next several hours, while the sun is gone, I’m going to become unconscious, temporarily losing command over everything I know and understand. When the sun returns, I will resume my life.’” […]
Anxiety Hacks
How Weighted Blankets Improve Sleep, Stress, and Anxiety
The health benefits of sleeping under heavy blankets has been documented throughout history, but the trend has emerged again in the digital age as an antidote to insomnia, stress, anxiety. As it turns out, sleeping under a weighted blanket is a particularly effective treatment for people who find themselves struggling with an inability to “wind […]
Read This If You’re Having a Panic Attack
First, stand up. Walk around if you have to (assuming you are in a safe place to do so). You’re having a panic attack. Maybe it’s your first, maybe it isn’t. Either way, you’re going to be okay. You’re Going to Be Okay Anxiety attacks, which can evolve into acute panic attacks, happen to many […]
Why Anxious People Should Avoid (Excess) Coffee and Alcohol
As we previously wrote in our Comprehensive Guide to Anxiety Relief, anxious people should avoid consuming excess coffee and alcohol. Or, at the very minimum, alternate drinking a class of water between each cup or glass of the hard stuff. This is because people who are anxiety tend to have genetic markets for increased caffeine […]
Gut Health Strongly Linked To Anxiety, Research Finds
Gut health and mental health may be more strongly associated than scientists previously suspected, new research suggests. According to recent meta-analyses published in the medical journal General Psychiatry, anxiety might be alleviated by regulating gut bacteria. This is a massive finding considering that as much as a third of the global population experiences anxiety, and […]
Why Citrus Fruits Induce a Feeling of Calm
Citrus fruits are nature’s little bundles of zen, for a number of reasons. Research from the U.S. National Library of Medicine shows that lemon and sweet orange oil, among other citrus scents, have a positive effect on human physical, mental, and spiritual wellbeing. This is partially because the smell of citrus has a positive effect […]
The Best Snacks for Flight Anxiety
Let’s be honest: most people are nervous flyers. No one likes turbulence– some of us are just better at coping with it than others. Finding healthy travel snacks for plane rides isn’t exactly hard, but finding snacks that also help fight flight anxiety can be. The best airport snacks for nervous travelers are fruits, nuts, […]
Can’t Afford Therapy? These Tips Can Help
So, you need therapy but you feel that you can’t afford it. Given the staggering cost of healthcare in America and the stigma that some still perceive around mental health, there are a number of factors that prevent people from seeking therapy when they really need it. Even for those who have insurance, mental health […]
A Comprehensive Guide to Anxiety Relief
The latest statistics from the World Health Organization estimate that over 260 million people across the world struggle with anxiety and chronic stress– a figure that is projected to grow exponentially in an age of increased political tension and economic upheaval. While shocking, this figure isn’t necessarily surprising. In the digital age, information comes at […]
These Foods Can Ease Seasonal Affective Disorder
Also known as the “Winter Blues,” Seasonal Affective Disorder is a feeling of mild depression or anxiety that manifests during the cold, grey winter months. (It’s also sometimes referred to as the very appropriate acronym, SAD.) SAD symptoms include everything from fatigue, lethargy, and difficulty waking up to extreme anxiety, lack of motivation, and decreased […]