NINE EASY ACTIVITIES THAT CAN HELP CALM YOU DOWN.

Anxiety and Stress is known to ruin perfectly happy days, damage relationships and turn your normal lifestyle into one of turmoil and trauma. It seems easy to people who are not affected by it, but those dealing with anxiety go through a lot of problems. Psychologist Kanan Khatau Chikhal explains, "If there is a cat in front of you, you perceive it as a tiger. This is what anxiety does to you". Psychologically, stress and anxiety is all about the chemicals being released in our body. Kanan states, "The sympathetic nervous system releases the chemicals like Serotonin and Oxytocin which calm us down". Fitness and wellness coach Swati Shah says, "There are a few simple daily activities that can help calm your anxiety and create mindfulness. Daily chores like cleaning the closet, hand washing clothes are some great ways to beat stress". Clinical Psychologist and author Seema Hingorrany says, "Activities like baking, going for long walks, deep breathing, walking bare-feet on sand or even grass, spending time close to the nature, are little things that always help to de-stress you". Here is a list of activities you could take up to deal with anxiety:
--Getting a hug or a good massage: Oxytocin is also known as the cuddle chemical or the trust hormone that is released when a mother breastfeeds her baby. And a tight, warm hug with a person you care about also does the same. That warm, happy feeling after a nice body massage is also due to this chemical.
--Breathe out with a sound: These hormones will be released when doing specific activities like when we breathe in and breathe out with a sound - aahh. You need to do this once every hour to release stress.
--Beat Coffee: There is something about homemade hand-beaten cappuccinos, feels Swati. She says that it is not just yummy, but also has a calming effect on your mind. She adds, "This process is not a planned exercise but one of the things I religiously love doing every morning and which I thinks makes for a good mindfulness exercise. Seeing the colour change always puts my mind in a clear space. And after sipping the cappuccino I feel instantly energised!" Take a cup and beat coffee, sugar and a few drops of water with a spoon till the dark brown coffee turns light brown and fluffy - it takes around 10 minutes. Add milk and water to taste. 
--Indulge in Aromatherapy: Aroma plays an important part to calm you down. Seema says, "Use lemon-grass, lavender, rose or jasmine - these are aromas that are therapeutic. You could use them in the form of candles or tea lights. They help to make you feel calm and positive". 
--The Walk Meditation: This meditation helps you focus in the present. It reduces anxiety and has a grounding effect on you. Kanan says, "Take one step to the right, walk forward and breathe in. Then take one step to the left, walk forward and breathe out. This immediately lowers blood pressure and calms you". 
--Creative Arts as a medium for self-expression: Dance therapy, sound therapy, drama therapy - basically using creative arts as a medium of self-expression helps tackle anxiety and stress. It is all about the use of pent up, excessive energy that has to be expressed - excess energy causes anxiety in the body. Seema says, "Using clay dough to create something or using coloured marble paper to make something creative also helps. Putting your creativity to good use helps you calm down". 
--Do something for others: One of the best ways to tackle anxiety is to add value to someone else's life. When you selflessly do something for others without expecting anything in return, it calms you by releasing the feel-good hormones oxytocin and serotonin. 
--Focus on calming yourself: The best way to deal with anxiety is to focus on your body sensations, rather than running away from it. Kanan explains, "Focus on the discomforting sensations and the more you focus the more they will disappear".
-Challapalli Srinivas Chakravarthy, 10th February, 2019 (Sunday)].
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