Better Ways to Manage Anxiety Than Eating
On the whole, disregulated eaters
are people with high anxiety. In fact, I’d guess that many of you would qualify
for the diagnosis of Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Anxiety is manageable,
however, so here are some ways to chill you out rather than eat. None of them
will come as a surprise, so consider them just a simple reminder.
Although you might think of
exercise as an activity that jazzes you up, it’s actually a great way to calm
yourself down. According to Sweating away
all that anxiety (Sarasota Herald
Tribune, Health and Fitness, 10/30/12), “Studies published by the American
Psychological Association show that exercise improves the body’s ability to
cope with stress. People who exercise also have lower rates of anxiety and
depression” because “exercise spurs the creation of norepinephrine, which acts
as a brain stress ‘buffer,’ keeping levels of epinephrine and cortisol, two
stress hormones, under control.”
Does exercise mean you must suit up
and head for the gym or the track? Not at all. It could mean blasting the radio
and doing jumping jacks or dancing the Watusi (for those of you who recall what
that is!), taking a brisk walk outside, gardening, or climbing up and down your stairs for
five minutes. Imagine automatically thinking about moving your body when you’re
stressed or anxious rather than eating. Consider what reminders will help you move
in that direction rather than toward the refrigerator. Exercise also helps ...
Source: Normal Eating - Category: Eating Disorders Authors: eatnormalnow Source Type: blogs