Fear of chronic health conditions gives me anxiety, but taking care of myself is reassuring that my risk of these conditions gets lower and lower with every healthy day.
From my experience and expert research, it is clear that a healthy body can help make a better mind.
Getting enough sleep is very important.
A Columbia University Department of Psychiatry study reports not getting enough sleep can increase negative reactions to stressful situations and weaken positive emotions.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cites sleeping at a comfortable temperature, avoiding screen time, caffeine, alcohol and large meals right before bed, and exercising during the day as ways to improve your sleep.
I often sacrifice sleep to either do schoolwork, procrastinate on schoolwork, do chores that I should’ve done during the day, drink alcohol, or just mess around on the internet.
When I’m suffering from insomnia, typically a result of anxiety, I am irritable, slow to understand and in lower spirits.
Exercise!
When I would go for runs on my treadmill or high-intensity bike rides, I would always crave the “cardio high.” This would improve my mood with improved self-esteem and a sense that I was doing my body a favour.
According to the U.S. Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, exercise improves brain health and cognitive function. It also reduces the chance of developing anxiety and depression. In the process, it will improve your physical health too.
It is also important to eat a healthy diet.
The Mental Health Foundation said grains, fruits and vegetables contain vitamins and minerals good for the brain. Also, protein has an amino acid that helps the brain regulate mood.
It also said eating healthy fats, found in things such as nuts, milk, eggs, oily fish, olive oil, and avocados, is also good for the brain.
Eating trans fats, found in processed food, packaged food, and your Big Mac meal, on the flip side, is detrimental and can increase irritability (and your risk of heart disease).
Eating too little is a problem, too, because low blood sugar makes you tired and irritable.
In my experience, drinking tea is an enormous anxiety relief and improves my mood significantly. It gives me a calm wakefulness that coffee sometimes pairs with anxiety.
According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, tea can create an alert and calm state of mind. Tea leaves contain an amino acid called L-theanine, which causes relaxation but not drowsiness.
Green tea had this effect. While coffee gives you energy, it can make you jittery, anxious, and irritable. In my experience, tea causes none of those.
UCLA Health said drinking black tea can also reduce blood pressure and your risk of dying from heart disease or a stroke.
It’s hard to kick the bad habits. But trust me, being healthy feels better.