Anxiety is often referred to as "the plague of the 21st century". The three major factors are: living in perilous times, worrying about the family's safety and constant uncertainty. People in Ukraine score 3/3, thus are extremely prone to chronic stress. We hereby provide a quick guide to stress reduction, a couple of simple techniques to support mental health and quickly put you back on your feet.
Breathing techniques
Breathing is the only autonomous system of our body that we can control and thus affect our well-being. When things get tough, use breathing exercises to calm yourself down. For example, the "square" technique. Imagine a square in front of you. Focus on breathing and move your eyes along the edges of the figure – we inhale/exhale on the vertical edges, pause on the horizontal ones.
Meditation
Find a quiet place, preferably in the fresh air. Sit comfortably on the mat, close your eyes, take a deep breath and exhale. Focus on your breathing. Turn on the "meditation music" or a record of "Tibetan bowls". Focus on the sensations in your body. Let go of anxiety and feel relief. After 15 minutes of meditation, return to breath control.
Outdoor physical activity
Not only does it allow you to enjoy being in the lap of nature, saturate your body with oxygen and diversify your fitness load, but also to reset your thoughts – give the brain the opportunity to work on new neural connections, not concentrate on obsessive thoughts. And of course, exercising produces endorphins and serotonin, known as the "happy hormones," which help improve your mood and reduce anxiety.
Socializing
We all need to be supported on our 'bad days', thus it is important to spend more time with the people we like. Joint hobbies, evening strolls, picnics or sports activities together have a positive effect on the nervous system and help us unwind. Being with loved ones is a good medicine!
Taking a walk through the forest
Any practice mentioned above produces even better results when combined with clean mountain air. A simple walk in the forest is a potent way to reduce anxiety and cope with stress. Thanks to the unique ecosystem of the Carpathians, our region is a perfect place to recuperate, regain strength and improve one's general condition, providing soul healing which everyone deserves.
Breathe fully. Feel the Carpathians!