Stressed Out
Every year, the world around us moves a little faster, and it’s easy to stumble and get stressed out as we try to catch up with it. Almost every fifth person in the United States has an anxiety disorder, costing the country more than $42 billion a year. Nearly half of those who suffer from depression are diagnosed with an anxiety disorder as well.
While sufferers would be wise to reach out to professionals for help, they can also take certain measures on their own to improve their everyday lives. The following tools may not be as effective as consulting a professional, but they could certainly lead to a less anxious and stress-free life in the future.
Virtual Reality
Virtual reality (VR) isn’t just for gamers — it can be used as a tool to reduce anxiety and curb the effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as well.
By transporting the user to another time and place inside a virtual 3D-rendered environment, researchers are trying to send PTSD sufferers mentally back to the scenes that first triggered their anxieties and fears. In other clinical trials, virtual reality technology is being used to recreate a setting with a private therapist sitting across from the patient.
The Berkeley Well-Being Institute is trialing its own anxiety-reducing VR method by relaxing the patient through “virtual wellness,” a suite of apps that range from deep-breathing exercises to star flight simulations.
Headspace
Meditation has been a common practice for thousands of years. Its history is intricately bound to religious practices, but secular forms have become increasingly popular as a way to relax and reduce anxiety.
The popular app Headspace has been developing its own technique through the science of mindfulness. According to their website, “a number of studies […] have initially found that online mindfulness training does produce results similar to in-person training.”
Not only can app-based mindful meditation reduce anxiety, it can sharpen your concentration at work and help you sleep better.
The Gravity Blanket
The idea of a weighted blanket aiding in reducing stress and anxiety is a proven concept. Weighted blankets such as the Gravity Blanket have been shown to increase serotonin and melatonin levels, helping users relax and sleep.
The Gravity Blanket is made of high-grade microfiber on the outside for an exceptionally soft feel and maximized comfort. Users will never miss a minute of sleep again.
Muse Headband
Rather than reaping the benefits of meditation through an interactive app on a smartphone, a company called Muse is trying to help sufferers reduce anxiety with the aid of a sensing headband. The Muse headband uses EEG-neurofeedback sensors to guide a wearer step-by-step through customized meditation programs.
emWave2
HeartMath’s emWave2 promises increased athletic performance and a reduction of stress by providing users with real-time heart rhythm feedback. The idea is to be able to act upon this information immediately, thereby “balancing your mind, body, and emotions.”
Thync
The Thync wearable is designed to help users overcome negative thoughts and anxiety with daily sessions that last for 10 minutes.
According to their website, the Thync uses low levels of electrostimulation to “activate specific nerve pathways on the head and neck.” The science behind the technology has been developed by a team of neuroscientists from MIT, Harvard and Stanford over the last five years.
Sensory Deprivation
Imagine yourself inside a completely dark pod, floating in a pool of high salt content water. Feeling relaxed yet?
The so-called sensory deprivation tank treatment is burgeoning into a cult phenomenon of sorts, and the idea behind it is simple: spend 45 to 90 minutes inside the tank without any external stimuli.
The treatment is said to reduce stress and anxiety, enabling you to forget the hardships of everyday life — assuming you aren’t claustrophobic, that is.
Cryotherapy
Cryotherapy — spending about three minutes in a -151.1 degree Celsius (-240 degree Fahrenheit) chamber — is no longer reserved for top-level athletes. It’s supposed to help burn calories and leave you in a relaxed state, figuratively freeze-burning the stress away.
There are a number of first-person accounts and small-scale clinical trials of cryotherapy aiding in anxiety reduction and treating depression, but the practice has yet to become widespread.