The word “anxiety” makes most people’s stomach twist. But for me, the feeling of anxiety was completely normal. I mean, it’s kind of what we all go through at least once in our lives doesn’t it? For some reason, when I think about that experience now, it’s like a light went on and everything made sense. I started to understand why certain people seemed so anxious from childhood on. It turned out that my family had a history of anxiety . . . and that this was just one more thing they passed down to me! This article will outline everything you need to know about anxiety and how to treat it naturally.
1. What is Anxiety?
Anxiety is an emotional reaction to an uncertainty about one’s future. This feeling can be mild or extreme and is often accompanied by a sense of fear, apprehension, or worry. Anxiety is a normal and necessary part of being human. Instead of feeling nervous or on edge when faced with a new situation, we should instead focus on the opportunity this brings. It’s important to understand the difference in anxiety between being “on” and “off” anxiety. Being “on” anxiety is when you feel anxious but also confident, while “off” anxiety is when you feel anxious but cannot focus or concentrate.
1.1 Types of Anxiety
There are many different types of anxiety. Common ones include:
- Dysthymia: This is a form of anxiety characterized by low mood, feelings of restlessness, and low energy.
- Panic: This type of anxiety is characterized by intense feelings of worry, terror, or fright.
1.2 Signs of Anxiety
When we’re anxious, we may experience:
- Nervousness – This is the feeling that you might do something wrong or doesn’t know what to do.
- Excessive or racing thoughts – Anxious thoughts often feel like rapid spoken thoughts.
- Muscle tension – This is a sign that your muscles are constricting, preventing you from adequately breathing.
- Vocal fry or scratchy voice – Because your mouth is constantly talking, scratchy voice is a sign that you’re probably overthinking things.
2. Medically-induced Anxiety
Anxiety can also be related to various medical conditions. For example, heart conditions, anemia, and hypothyroidism can all cause anxiety. However, anxiety is something that happens to everyone, no matter what your health condition is. Anxiety can also be caused by medications, such as birth control pills, antidepressants, and anti-anxiety medications.
3. How to Deal With Anxiety Without Drugs
The first step in dealing with anxiety is to identify what is causing it. This may sound obvious, but so many people have anxiety because they are not dealing with the root cause. Anxiety is caused by many things and often has a lot to do with relationships, finances, or health. When you’ve identified the root cause, the next step is to find a solution for the anxiety. That’s where baking comes in! Baking helps release chemicals that help with digestion, metabolism, and sleep.
4. Finding My Way Back to Wellness
After years of struggling with anxiety, I found my way back to wellness through baking. The first thing I did was experiment with different types of breads. To my surprise, rye bread was my favorite! It’s naturally spongy, firm, and dense. Plus, it has a rich, hearty flavor that keeps on going even after baking. Rye bread is also low in calories, fat, and carbohydrates so it’s a perfect addition to your baking arsenal.
The next thing I did was experiment with different types of rolls. To my surprise, there were a lot of similarities between rye and whole wheat rolls. So, I added those to my collection. When it came to the bagels, I was a little confused. At first, I thought they were similar to the rolls, but upon closer inspection, I realized that they were quite different. Instead of being dense, bagels are light, less filling, and have a quick, easy flavor.
5. The Win-Win of Anxiety Treatment
The one thing that everyone who suffers from anxiety can understand is the need for treatment. So, why don’t we have more treatments for anxiety? It’s because we don’t know how to treat it. People who suffer from anxiety often don’t know how to handle it themselves so they turn to medications. But medications are not a long-term solution and can actually do more harm than good.