Anxiety Natural Remedies That Work

Fireworks. An assignment due for a client. My dog getting sick. My husband being late. Nothing at all. The list of things that can make me anxious is truly endless.

Maybe it's because I'm a writer, and I just have that obsessive writer personality -- always worrying about something. But by most standards, my case of anxiety probably would be considered mild -- it's definitely not bad enough to seek professional help or take pharmaceuticals. Yet, it's too bothersome to just be ignored.

That's why I've found -- and tried -- an arsenal of natural anxiety remedies. Some work better than others, but they all work for me. Maybe some will help you.

I absolutely love this natural remedy for anxiety. It's so easy, and scientific studies suggest it works.

You simply buy a bottle of rosemary essential oil -- actual essential oil, not perfume oil or anything like that. Then, when you start to feel stressed out and anxious, just open the bottle and inhale. The scent of the rosemary is instantly calming.

According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, a study that was done showed that inhaling rosemary calmed study subjects. (A conflicting study, however, showed that people who smelled rosemary actually felt more anxious than people who smelled lavender ... go figure.)

I first read about rosemary's anti-anxiety effects in Prevention magazine a few years ago, and I've been a devotee of this anxiety remedy ever since. I keep a bottle right on my desk and whenever I start feeling anxious about something I'm working on, it really helps.

Bach flower remedies can be a little controversial, but many holistic doctors and other natural practitioners swear by them. I personally love them and use them for all sorts of situations, including anxiety.

My favorite Bach flower remedy for anxiety is Rescue Remedy. It's billed as yoga in a bottle, and it really does help calm and center me. It's especially good when something stressful is happening in life -- such as a disagreement with a loved one, money woes or other upset.

As directed on the bottle, I usually put a few drops into a glass of water and slowly sip it. Usually by the time I finish the glass of water, I've started feeling better.

A cup of calming tea can really help with anxiety. You should choose a tea that is known for calming and stress-relieving properties, and there are many to choose from. I recommend experimenting to see which tea works for you. My personal favorite is the Republic of Tea's Get Relaxed tea, which contains chamomile, passionflower, lavender, rose and eleuthero root, an herb known for zapping stress.

My favorite tea, though, happens to be quite pricy, so I like to blend my own calming teas sometimes too. I often go to an herb store to buy bulk herbs, and I mix teas with peppermint, spearmint, chamomile and lavender. Any of those combinations are good for anxiety relief.

If you have serious anxiety issues or you think you might have generalized anxiety disorder, it's a good idea to seek professional help from a qualified therapist. Depending on the therapist you choose, you might be treated using Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy.

But if you have mild anxiety and don't feel you need therapy, you can still use some of the same ideas and techniques at home. In my non-professional interpretation, cognitive-behavioral therapy is based on the idea that your thoughts shape your feelings. So, if you want to feel differently, you need to change your thinking.

Sometimes, when I just start feeling anxious for no reason, I'll stop and look at what I'm thinking. I often realize that I'd been in a negative thinking loop without even realizing it, repeating pessimistic thoughts, such as, "Your editor is going to hate this article." When I stop and look at the thoughts, I realize they often have no basis in reality, and I can replace them with more positive (and more realistic) thoughts. Often, the anxiety just disappears -- poof!

If you have ever done yoga, you know that breathing -- very deep breathing -- is an integral part of yoga. One of my yoga teachers once said, "Yoga without the breathing is just stretching."

You might not be able to run off and do Child's Pose every time you start feeling anxious, but deep breathing is something that can -- and should -- be practiced anywhere, including at your desk, in the car or while you're out for a walk.

Deep breathing gets oxygen to your whole body and naturally calms you. If you're not sure exactly how to practice deep breathing, here is a guide.

If these natural remedies for anxiety do not work, or if you have anxiety that is causing you distress or interfering with your life in any way, please seek professional help. Anxiety is no fun, but natural remedies will work for many people with mild anxiety.

Photo credit -- psd, Flickr