By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: 5 Alternative Treatment Options for Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Mental Health > 5 Alternative Treatment Options for Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Mental Health

5 Alternative Treatment Options for Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Ryan Kh
Ryan Kh
Share
7 Min Read
Anxiety Disorder
Shutterstock Licensed Photo - 1767203567
SHARE

Generalized anxiety disorder is a mental illness that affects around 2.7% of adults in the United States. There are a number of different medications that can help with this disorder, including Xanax, Klonopin and valium.

Contents
  • CBD and THC products
  • Exercise
  • Reduce consumption of substances that contribute to anxiety
  • Meditation
  • Practice better sleep hygiene

These drugs have proven to be highly effective for many people with an anxiety disorder. However, they often have a number of side effects that can be difficult to live with.

The good news is there might be ways to treat anxiety problems without needing to resort to medication. In fact, medication should usually be your last resort if you have anxiety problems. Unless they are extremely crippling, you will want to find a way to manage the condition without subjecting your body to these difficult side effects.

Here are some of the best ways to treat generalized anxiety disorder without using medication.

More Read

employee mental health
How to Use Training to Support Workplace Mental Health
3 Things To Know To Boost Your Child’s Cognitive Reasoning
4 Simple Steps For Solving The Real Cause Of Your Depression
When Should You Consider Getting Neurological Care At Home?
Repetitive Stress Injuries and How Moms Can Prevent Them

CBD and THC products

A growing body of research suggests that CBD and THC products can help with anxiety disorders. One of the most promising studies was conducted in 2011, which showed that 400 mg of CBD had significant anti-anxiety benefits.

You can try using the best delta 9 on the market! This can be very helpful for anyone with serious anxiety issues.

Exercise

When you are suffering from moderate anxiety, you might want to try getting more exercise. Research has shown that 20 minutes of exercise has the same benefits of an anti-anxiety medication.

You are going to want to find an exercise regimen that you will be able to stick with easily. Try do find something that is fun and enjoyable, rather than something that you have to force yourself to do every day. Many people have an easier time swimming, biking or playing tennis then running on a treadmill.

Depending on the nature of your anxiety, it might be easier or harder to exercise in a group. Some people find exercise is easier in group settings, because they can distract themselves from the physical discomfort by socializing with their exercise partners. However, some people with generalized anxiety disorder are uncomfortable in social situations. You will need to decide for yourself whether group exercise activities are right for you.

Reduce consumption of substances that contribute to anxiety

Physicians and mental health professionals often have difficulty determining the root cause of mental health problems like generalized anxiety disorder. These problems are sometimes caused by hormonal imbalances or neurological conditions. However, they can also be caused by environmental factors or dietary issues.

Many people have anxiety due to substances that they consume. Nicotine, alcohol and caffeine are all substances that can cause or seriously worsen anxiety problems.

Caffeine is one of the worst substances for people with anxiety problems. One study conducted in 2008 found that caffeine stops the brain from processing adenosine, which is the chemical that causes tiredness. It also triggers the release of adrenaline. These two physiological changes cause high level of alertness and can create anxiety.

Nicotine is also particularly bad for people with anxiety. Studies have shown that people that start smoking as teenagers have a much higher likelihood of developing anxiety as an adult.

You don’t have to necessarily give up these substances altogether. However, it is a good idea to cut back on them to see if it helps. If you’re willing to quit and cold turkey, then you might notice some benefits with your anxiety problems.

Meditation

Meditation is another activity that you might want to try to help manage anxiety. Some people that have never tried it before might be skeptical. However, there is strong evidence that it can help.

A 2010 meta-analysis of various studies found that meditation was at least moderately effective at managing symptoms of depression and anxiety. The authors found that the results did not differ significantly based on the year of the studies they were analyzing, which suggests that different research techniques used over the years reached similar conclusions.

There are a lot of great YouTube channels like Daily Calm that can help you get the most benefit from meditation. They have clear, easy to follow instructions for people that have never meditated before.

Practice better sleep hygiene

One of the most important things that you can do to alleviate the symptoms of anxiety is to get a better night’s sleep. Unfortunately, anxiety tends to interfere with our sleep cycle, which makes us easier said than done.

Fortunately, there are some good sleep hygiene measures that you can take to sleep more easily. Some things that you might want to try include:

  • You should only be using your bed for sleep and intimate activities with your partner. You need your brain to associate your bed with sleep, which is easier if you don’t use it for other purposes.
  • You should try minimizing consumption of caffeine, alcohol, nicotine and large meals before bed.
  • You will want to avoid using your smartphone or other electronic devices for at least two hours before going to bed. The UV rays in electronic devices can disrupt your melatonin production, which makes sleep more difficult.
  • You should try going to sleep at the same time each night, so you are not disrupting your circadian rhythms.

These steps will make it a lot easier to sleep well, which should help manage your anxiety more easily.

TAGGED:anxiety disorder
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share
By Ryan Kh
Follow:
Ryan Kh is an experienced blogger, digital content & social marketer. Founder of Catalyst For Business and contributor to search giants like Yahoo Finance, MSN. He is passionate about covering topics like big data, business intelligence, startups & entrepreneurship. Email: ryankh14@icloud.com

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

a woman walking on the hallway
6 Easy Healthcare Ways to Sit Less and Move More Every Day
Health
September 9, 2025
Clinical Expertise
Healthcare at a Crossroads: Why Leadership Matters More Than Ever
Global Healthcare
September 9, 2025
travel nurse in north carolina
Balancing Speed and Scope: Choosing the Nursing Degree That Fits Your Goals
Nursing
September 1, 2025
intimacy
How to Keep Intimacy Comfortable as You Age
Relationship and Lifestyle Senior Care
September 1, 2025

You Might also Like

Brain for Better Mental Health
Mental Health

How to Rewire Your Brain for Better Mental Health

August 12, 2024
mental health as entertainers
Mental HealthNews

David Bolno on Importance of Mental Health for Entertainers

January 15, 2024
InsomniaMental HealthWellness

Can CBD Help You Sleep Better? Here’s What To Know

April 27, 2020
Mental Health

Tips For Dealing With The Death Of A Loved One

January 6, 2020
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?