Six Free Ways to Combat Stress and Anxiety

In today's consumer driven world it sometimes feels like you have to buy gadgets, alcohol, expensive vacations or spa treatments just to fight stress and anxiety. Not true.

Watch a sunset from beginning to end.
Watch the light go through its entire spectrum of colors. Marvel at how unlikely it was that earth was close enough to the sun yet far enough away from it for life to form on this planet. Realize that in the big scheme of things, because we are so lucky just to be alive, your anxiety and stress are not that bad.

Go for a fast walk and leave your iPod at home.
Focus on the different sounds of your neighborhood. Hear the vibrations of a lawnmower, kids playing outside and the sound of your feet on the pavement and let your stress melt away with your sweat.

Hug somebody.
Studies show that children with anxiety disorders can benefit from feeling pressure on their bodies.
A hug is like a quick massage, as much of the benefits of massage come from when the massage therapist puts pressure on you. Being squeezed in a hug may exert the right amount of pressure quickly to snap you out of your anxiety.

Cry.
Holding back the tears will only hold in your stress and increase your anxiety. You don't need the additional stress of trying to govern moods that sometimes can't be controlled. Go to your room and let the tears flow. Punch your pillow. Tear up some paper. Jump up and down and kick and scream if you want to. I promise your anxiety will be gone when you're done. Just wait until the end of the day, so you don't have to go anywhere with red puffy eyes.

Dress in your favorite outfit.
Fix your hair with whatever products you have that smell nice. Guys can shave their faces and moisturize; girls can take extra care with their makeup. When you look good, you can fool other people into thinking you feel good. You will end up tricking yourself into letting go of your anxiety by throwing yourself into the role of a well put together individual. Just beware going on a shopping trip to get a new outfit to make you feel better. In your state of anxiety, you'll just worry later about having spent some money. Save the new outfit purchase for a low stress day.

Read.
Focus on what the author has to say and how the story is structured to give yourself something to think about other than stress. Let your mind move out of your body and into the world in the book. Even if you just steal fifteen minutes to read you will feel less attached to your anxiety when you close the book. Besides, when you're finished you'll likely be smarter than when you began reading and gains in intelligence will surely lower your anxiety.