No-fuss anxiety tips #16

Think lifestyle

Welcome to blog number 16 in this no-fuss series on anxiety, made up of 20-short articles with simple tips and techniques for managing anxiety, drawing on therapeutic thinking from a range of psychological and psychotherapy theories. 

What these tips won’t do is explore the origins and purpose of anxiety for you – this type of deeper exploration is what therapy offers. That said, having strategies for managing anxiety is a great place to start.  Each article is designed to be quick read, no-fuss. So, let’s get into technique number 16: think lifestyle.   

We talk about physical health and mental health as if they are two different things. I like to think of “health” as encompassing both simultaneously. My therapeutic approach draws heavily on Gestalt psychotherapy, where I aim to meet you as a “whole person”, rather than focusing only on your thoughts, behaviours, emotions or bodily sensations. Whilst it might feel like a bit of a broken record to hear the message that attending to your diet and lifestyle can help with anxiety, it really does make a difference!

Poor physical health can lead to an increased risk of developing mental health problems, just as poor mental health can negatively impact physical health.  Lifestyle based steps to improve your physical health, such as reducing alcohol intake, increasing exercise and eating a balanced diet are also effective self-help strategies for anxiety. 

For example, research shows diets low in magnesium can lead to increased anxiety. Examples of magnesium rich foods include leafy greens, legumes, nuts, seeds, and whole grains. Building in more of these to what you eat could help you with anxiety. Of course, opting for less cake and more of these is likely to also boost your physical health! Win, win.   

So, are there any lifestyle tweaks you want to make? Rather than making multiple changes at once, aim to make one manageable simple lifestyle change. It could be as simple as setting yourself a goal to drink 6 glasses of water through the day. 

I hope this short blog has given you something of use.  If you’ve got an appetite for more, then do look out for other blogs within this anxiety-themed series. And, if you’re considering speaking with a counsellor about anxiety, do get in touch. We can work together through online counselling or through face-to-face counselling at my therapy room in Preston.