Key Takeaways:

• Early prevention is key in reducing long-term anxiety disorders.
• Knowing what to look for can help adults spot anxiety in children and remedy it early.
• Reducing anxiety naturally can lower your chances of having related disorders in the future.
• Simple lifestyle changes can help ease and prevent anxiety symptoms. 
• It’s important to know how to tell when medical treatment is needed for anxiety.

Feelings of anxiety can be normal, but you don’t have to suffer through them. Find out to spot and help reduce anxiety through preventive care and simple lifestyle changes.

Suffering through anxiety can leave you and your loved ones feeling scared, hopeless, and isolated, but you’re not alone. In fact, anxiety is the most common mental disorder in the U.S., affecting nearly 20% of the population each year and 7% of children. Helping anxious children learn how to cope with their issues can provide them with the skills they need to avoid becoming anxious adults.

Identifying symptoms of anxiety and taking steps to reduce them can help prevent difficulties for you or your loved ones down the road. If you or someone you know may be suffering from anxiety, here is what to know about early intervention, how to take control of your anxiety symptoms naturally, and when medical treatment may be necessary.

Noticing anxiety at an early age

Early intervention and anxiety prevention are crucial to managing symptoms and living a healthy, happy life. In a study conducted to examine anxiety prevention in preschool children, subjects who participated in early intervention showed a significant decrease in anxiety diagnoses over those who did not.

Untreated anxiety can lead to a bevy of issues in children that can affect them later on in life. Long-term anxiety side effects include:

• Decreased productivity 
• Increased irritability 
• Higher risks of self-harm 
• Stunted social and cognitive development

Anxiety is often managed at home, especially when treated early, but noticing signs of it can be tough. Where is the line between normal behavior and signs of juvenile anxiety? Here are a few signs your child may be suffering from more than a standard temper tantrum:

• Displaying severe distress or separation anxiety when away from parents 
• Extreme and irrational fears of specific situations such as encounters with pets, doctors’ or dentists’ offices, thunder, or insects 
• Extreme fear or obsessing over hypothetical situations or the future
• Recurrent nightmares or trouble sleeping
• Physical manifestations of stress or anxiety such as shortness of breath, dizzy spells, incontinence, or gastrointestinal issues

If your child is displaying these behaviors, early intervention may be key to relieving symptoms and empowering your child to live free from the restraints of anxiety in the future.

5 steps to naturally reduce anxiety

Anxiety disorders are steadily increasing among adults and children. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, diagnoses rose from 5.5% to 6.4% in children aged 6 to 17 years between 2007 and 2012. As of 2019, the percentage of children aged 3 to 17 who were diagnosed with anxiety grew to 9.4%. Anxiety sufferers can benefit immensely from early intervention and preventive care, but only 36.9% of those afflicted actually seek treatment.

Once you’ve identified how to spot symptoms of anxiety, it’s important to take action and make the changes necessary to manage stress. When left unrecognized and untreated, anxiety disorders can cause lasting effects on your health or that of your children. The great news is that there are natural ways to address such issues:

Engage in low-impact exercise

Low-impact exercise has been shown to significantly reduce cortisol levels and stress-related health issues. Cortisol is known as the stress hormone, so reducing your levels can lead to a natural reduction of anxiety. Take it slow and go for a long walk to lower your blood pressure, clear your mind, and help ease anxiety symptoms.

Stick to a gut-healthy diet

Many gastrointestinal issues can be directly linked to anxiety and vice versa, as the gut and the brain are directly linked via the vagus nerve and the nervous system. By taking care of your gut, you can significantly reduce symptoms of anxiety. Try incorporating pre- and probiotics into your vitamin regimen and enjoy a diet rich in gut-healthy foods like yogurt, kimchi, legumes, nuts, seeds, and fresh fruits and vegetables.

Get enough sleep

Getting a good night’s sleep is imperative in reducing symptoms of anxiety, but sleep does not always come easy to those who suffer from it. Anxious thoughts or feelings can lead to insomnia or poor, restless sleep patterns. Creating an evening routine can help to soothe nerves before bedtime and ensure a more peaceful night’s sleep. Try eliminating electronics or highly stimulating activities in the hours before bedtime and engage in a calming practice like meditating, stretching, or reading before lights out.

Find a creative outlet

Multiple studies have shown that participating in creative practice can significantly impact one’s mental well-being and reduce feelings of anxiety and depression. Creative expression such as drawing, dancing, or creative writing can help you manage your symptoms by providing an outlet for you to express yourself and your feelings in a positive way.

Keep track of your symptoms

Journaling to help recognize and compartmentalize anxiety-inducing thoughts can help you determine any patterns or triggers you may have, allowing you to better understand and manage your anxiety symptoms.

Implementing lifestyle changes can make a significant impact on your mental health and well-being, but there are other options including medication and counseling if you’re dealing with severe anxiety. Talking to your doctor can help you determine the best plan of action for anxiety prevention and treatment.

Anxiety prevention and treatment with ModRN Health

Understanding anxiety can be daunting, but ModRN Health helps make treatment easy and affordable. Utilize a variety of resources for preventive care and compare medication costs from providers near you so you can find the solutions you need at the best prices available.
Find out more about how ModRN Health can help, and enjoy access to the best and most affordable treatment options, plus SMS and email prescription reminders and up-to-date information on managing your physical and mental health.