Given our current pandemic and overflow of information, it’s understandable for a person to feel some level of anxiety. Sometimes, a little anxiety can be beneficial. However, some people live with greater levels of stress than others. It gets to a point where anxiety sucks the joy out of life.

Consider reaching out to a licensed professional if you experience moderate to severe anxiety consider reaching out to a licensed professional. Often, our anxiety stems from deeper problems we may not recognize right away. BetterHelp can help you find a licensed therapist specializing in helping patients with anxiety. For more information about which therapies work best for anxiety, visit the link below:

https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/psychologists/what-is-convergence-psychology/

Many people turn to natural herbs and treatments to dampen their anxiety. Here are seven examples of natural herbs that can help manage your anxiety levels.

St. John’s Wort

St. John’s Wort is a yellow flowering plant that contains hypericin and hyperforin. This flower grows all over Europe and Asia and is easily accessible in pill form at most pharmacies. St. John’s Wort has been widely used for people with depression, but studies have shown it can also treat anxiety.

It is unknown which specific effect St. John’s Wort has on the body. Still, studies have shown that the flower promotes serotonin production. This hormone stabilizes our moods and happiness.

Valerian

Valerian is a perennial plant found in Europe and parts of Asia. Valerian is sold in tea form. Alternatively, its roots are extracted intend ground into pill forms. Valerian is used to treat people with sleeping disorders and calm someone’s anxiety levels.

Valerian has soothing properties that can soothe people who are feeling anxious or stressed out. The plant contains hesperidin and linarin. These chemicals have been shown to inhibit certain functions in the amygdala. The amygdala is the part of the brain that processes fear and emotional responses to stress.

Chamomile

Chamomile, or Matricaria Recutita, is a versatile daisy-like plant that has been used for many other ailments. Chamomile can help reduce anxiety, inflammation, blood sugar, menstrual pains and even help cancer patients. Chamomile plants are usually dried and infused into teas.

Studies have shown that chamomile taken over time can help reduce anxiety and increase overall well-being. Chamomile contains the chemical apigenin, known to bind to brain receptors that produce anxiety and stress.

Lavender

Lavender is another versatile plant that treats a wide array of conditions. Lavender can be ground as boiled in tea, or its oil can be used in creams and lotions to apply topically. Some of the symptoms lavender can help with are anxiety, sleep problems, asthma symptoms, and pain management.

Lavender oil contains linalyl acetate, which has been shown to affect the parasympathetic system by reducing anxiety levels and regulating hormone production.

Kava

Kava, or kava kava, is a bright green plant indigenous to the Pacific Islands. This plant is known for its psychoactive properties and can cause sedation, relaxation, and relief from anxiety. Kava is usually mixed with a beverage as a plant or extracted into a liquid. If taking kava plant in liquid form, be sure to only take a small dose as it’s very potent as a liquid.

Be advised that kava plants should not be taken daily. Their sedative effects could cause side effects like addiction and severe weight loss.

Passionflower

Passiflora Incarnata is a perennial, woody vine that grows in the Americas. Some species are also found in Asia and the Polynesian Islands. It’s a beautiful purple flower used to treat anxiety, depression, and panic disorders.

Passionflower has been known to raise gamma-aminobutyric acid levels. This compound helps you relax and sleep better by reducing brain activity.

Ginseng Root

Ginseng Root is a popular alternative to taking antidepressants and has been used in Asia for centuries for its curative properties. You can boil the root into a tea, eat the root raw, or take ginseng root in pill form.

Ginseng root contains compounds that help regulate the immune system. It can also help with inflammation and anxiety if taken for no more than 8 weeks. Studies show that after 8 weeks, ginseng root’s curative effects begin to wane.

Final Thoughts

Please keep in mind that herbal remedies are not exempt from side effects. Kava, for example, can become addicting over time. Always be sure to check with your primary caregiver about taking herbal supplements. If you feel severe symptoms, reach out to a licensed therapist for professional help.

The post 7 Natural Herbs that help with Anxiety appeared first on Green Prophet.

How does mindfulness help with gardening? It turns out that mindfulness is not reserved for meditation, yoga, or breathing exercises. To understand how gardening can help mindfulness, we should delve into what mindfulness is and what it isn’t.

What is Mindfulness?

Let’s clarify some things about mindfulness. Yoga and meditation are not interchangeable with mindfulness, though they may help you achieve it.

Mindfulness is the practice of being in the moment. It involves having a clear mind and focusing on your present state in all of your senses. Some people may achieve mindfulness with yoga or breathing exercises. If that’s you, great! If it isn’t, it’s not a big deal. There are many ways to achieve this level of focus and presence.

Mindfulness has become a hot topic because, as a society, we’ve gotten accustomed to staring at screens on our phones. Many people have a hard time switching their minds off and don’t know how to focus on a task. Mindfulness is a call back to a simpler time when we didn’t have phones to be glued to and did things. In the past, it wasn’t even called mindfulness. People just did something.

Practicing Mindfulness

Gardening is a great way to practice mindfulness without going too far. Here are 5 benefits to practice mindfulness while tending to your garden.

Appreciation

Before you start gardening, take a moment to observe your garden. The work you put into tending to it reaps its intrinsic rewards. Use this moment to get into a clear mindset and push out other thoughts.

Many people see what they don’t have but forget to acknowledge what they do have. Practicing appreciation can help you embrace the time to garden and can also help you show appreciation to loved ones and yourself.

Use your senses

While you’re in your garden, take the time to explore every sense you experience. What does the dirt feel like in your hands? Are there any songbirds or insects you hear? Can you taste anything in the air when you take a breath? What shades of color do you see? Does it have a sweet aroma or earthy smell?

This exercise helps to center yourself and fully embrace your moment through your senses. Studies have shown that this exercise is also effective with anxiety disorders or PTSD.

Study a Flower

Take a moment to observe a flower or plant. Is there anything you see that you hadn’t noticed before? Get up close to it. What can you tell about the flower from being up close? Do its leaves have any blemishes? Are there any signs of insects chewing through leaves? Write down what you notice in a journal and compare.

This awareness helps build focus and heightens your senses. Having awareness is a valuable skill in any setting and may help you discover things in your every day that had blocked out or forgotten.

Minimize Screen Time

It can be tempting to pull out your phone and snap a few pictures while gardening, especially if your plants have started to blossom. Try to resist the temptation until after you’ve finished gardening.

Mindfulness is about being fully present in your activity. When we grab our phones and post something, we spend more time finding the best filter and making the picture ready for social media. We can also get sidetracked and begin scrolling. Studies have shown that jumping to our phones while performing a task can rewire the brain to lose focus more easily.

Imagine you’re a master botanist, and your garden is your masterpiece. While you’re in your garden, that’s all that matters. The world will be there waiting for you when you’re finished.

Pruning and Weeding out

Gardening is a metaphor for life. At times, weeds grow wildly in our gardens and take over plots of land. The same can be said about negative thoughts. If unchecked, they can grow in your mind and take up valuable mental space.

Try to visualize pulling weeds as pulling out negative thoughts. Keep in mind that the term negative need not be a static definition. Many emotions can be necessary and shouldn’t always be considered harmful. However, some thoughts serve us, and others don’t. Use gardening to sift through these thoughts and weed out what ideas no longer help you.

Pruning can also be a metaphor for growth. As we mature and become older, some of our beliefs change over time. Maybe we had a difficult childhood that left some invisible scars. Maybe how you thought when you were young changed.

Pruning a plant can symbolize pruning your thoughts for thought processes that no longer serve you. By practicing pruning, you can begin to see what else in your life has outstayed its welcome and can be cut out.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re just starting or already have a beautiful garden, gardening is a great activity to practice mindfulness every day.

The post Gardening and Mindfulness appeared first on Green Prophet.

Nature can heal us in ways we don’t fully understand, but we feel it. We feel better after spending time in a local park or sitting outside with ourselves. We feel energized after a brisk walk. Our moods boost after we walk past a flower bush.

While we cannot irrefutably explain the reason for this healing, many therapists have begun to incorporate nature into other therapy forms to benefit their client’s mental health further.

One way they incorporate nature into their therapy is with Eco-Art Therapy. This type of therapy takes Art Therapy and includes natural world elements, such as leaves and branches.

If you’d like to learn more about Art Therapy, visit the link below:

https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/therapy/what-is-art-therapy-and-how-can-i-get-started/

What is Eco-Art Therapy?

Eco-Art Therapy is a type of therapy that combines the healing power of nature and art into a joint therapeutic session. Art Therapy is an uncommon therapy form gaining popularity with patients who struggle with depression, anxiety, and trauma.

Therapists give patients the tools and space to explore art coupled with nature. Patients can paint outside and incorporate anything they can obtain into their artwork. Things like eggshells, dry leaves, pinecones, seashells, seed pods, weeds, flower petals, and grass clippings are all fair game.

Eco-Art Therapy encourages patients to expand their ideas of art and find self-expression in everyday objects. It also helps patients find nature everywhere, not just in sprawling parks or acres of land.

How Does Eco-Art Therapy work?

Eco-Art Therapy works similarly to traditional art therapy.  Therapists use art to diagnose and help patients in several ways, but they fall under three main categories.

Art as Therapy

In this approach, the journey is the destination. Patients enjoy the process of creating without fear of scrutinization. They can paint, draw, sculpt, build, collage, color, and design for the sake of creating. Making art is the therapy itself and can be a cathartic experience for helping patients realize what they’re feeling.

Art as Psychotherapy

Therapists will work with patients to uncover any symbolism or patterns they may find in their finished artwork. These patterns allow therapists to delve deeper into a patient’s psyche. Think of a Rorschach inkblot test, except the patient creates the art, and the therapist helps to find their meaning.

Therapists will usually employ other forms of therapy to couple with art therapy.

Art Therapy as Stress Relief

This final approach treats art therapy as a means to practice mindfulness. Patients experience a sense of calm while creating art and can get lost in their creation. This focus on their artwork can increase their concentration and block some of their negative emotions.

Patients can escape from their stress and anxiety with art. Art Therapy is a healthy, productive activity that transports patients into a different state of mind. Allowing their minds to just focus on their art may give them the time to find solutions to their problems and dissipate their anxiety.

What are the benefits of Eco-Art Therapy?

Eco-Art Therapy can be accessible to a broader group of people. Patients don’t need to buy expensive tools or equipment to begin. Therapists encourage patients to think creatively and use whatever they can find.

Some patients who live in highly urbanized areas may not have access to a park or nature. Eco-Art Therapy broadens the definition of “nature” and encourages patients to see nature everywhere. It doesn’t have to be a National Park or a reservation. You can find materials around if you just know how to look.

Eco-Art therapy also shares the benefit of giving patients a way to express themselves without the need to speak. Sometimes, a patient can feel overwhelmed by trauma or symptoms that they cannot communicate their feelings. Eco-Art gives patients a way to express themselves and begin to understand how they’re feeling.

Final Thoughts

Eco-Art Therapy is a growing field that promotes mental health and helps patients reduce anxiety and stress. If you feel you would benefit from Art Therapy, reach out to a licensed therapist today

The post Eco-Art Therapy: Healing through Nature appeared first on Green Prophet.

Mental Health is at the forefront of science and medicine, with more and more studies being conducted to find treatments for mental disorders. While studies continue to be published about the importance of mental health, only recently has the topic become more socially acceptable.

Sites like BetterHelp know how important it is to put your mental health first. They can connect you to hundreds of licensed therapists and social workers to work with you. If you’re interested in learning more about therapy, visit the link below:

https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/therapy/signs-of-a-bad-therapist-how-to-know-when-to-move-on/

Many people have turned to alternative treatment forms to cope with their symptoms. One of these alternatives is pet and animal therapy.

Humans have always had a symbiotic relationship with pets like dogs and cats. Originally for utility, our relationship with our pets has evolved into one of love and family. We treat our pets like family members because we share a bond with them.

Pet owners can attest to the benefits of having a pet, but now science has studied how animals can help people with mental disorders. Their studies have shown that having a pet can reduce symptoms of mental disorders in many cases.

Case Studies

In a 2018 study, researchers found that subjects with pets experienced less severe symptoms of depression and PTSD. Patients quoted that their pets provide unconditional love and support without judgment or reproach.

Another study from the University of British Columbia found that therapy dogs contributed to a significant decrease in stress and anxiety among college students.

A 2013 study found that therapy pets effectively helped children with Autism. The research states that pets can be an emotional bridge to children by recognizing visible cues and rewarding children with affection and play.

While more research needs to be conducted, researchers are confident that a positive correlation between pets and people with mental illness exists.

Benefits of Pets on Mental Health

Below are some of the most widely accepted benefits of pet ownership.

Decrease in Stress Hormones

Having a pet can dampen your anxiety and stress just by interacting with your pets. Studies show that spending uninterrupted time with your pet can decrease the production of stress hormones and make you feel calm. People with social anxiety disorders have also benefited from less anxiety because of their pets.

High Self-Esteem

A companion that gets excited when you arrive home can make anyone happy. It’s this unconditional love and excitement that can raise someone’s self-esteem. When we have pets, we have to take care of them to make sure they live long lives. Caring for them gives us purpose and makes us feel important. This sense of obligation can help to dampen some symptoms of depression. A 2016 study showed that older adults experienced less depression when tasked with feeding and taking care of crickets over eight weeks.

Increased Physical Activity

Unless you have a house cat, pets need to relieve themselves outside. This forces pet owners to go out for walks and wake up early. Exercising 30 minutes a day has been cited as one of the best ways to improve mental health, and walking your pets can help get you outside and moving. Pets can also help us socialize and build social skills by interacting with other pet owners. This interaction may help people with social anxiety disorders practice skill-building in a safe setting with their pets to divert any anxiety.

Mindfulness

Having a pet lets you stay in the moment and forget about your worries. The here and now is all that matters to pets, and playing or interacting with them can help practice mindfulness.

Final Thoughts

Science proves that the bond between man and animal is special, and this bond can help dampen some of the symptoms of stress and anxiety. Please note that while they may be therapeutic, pets are not a replacement for therapy. If you feel you have moderate to severe symptoms, reach out to a licensed therapist.

The post Treating Mental Disorders with Pets and Animals appeared first on Green Prophet.

Many people are turning to going outside more in order to improve their mental health. While there are many plants to see, even those which may go extinct soon, there is also some benefit to nature as therapy. What can nature do for your body, a d for your mind? Read on to find out.

Nature as a Creative Outlet

Nature is great for creative input.  Nature is calming, it’s beautiful, and there is so much out there you can check out.  You can use nature as inspiration for everything from canvas prints to even just as a healing resource.

Nature is filled with beautiful, bright colors and plants, and it can be a wonderful way for you to spark creativity whenever you need it.

Nature is Calming

Do you feel stressed out after a long day? A walk in nature is great for healing the mind, and the body.  Nature contains plants, which provide rich oxygen to help oxygenate the blood and keep the cells healthy.

But not only that, the stillness of nature is quite relaxing. Do you feel calm when you’re in nature? It’s because it is made to naturally relax and make you feel good.

If you’ve had a long day full of ups and downs, walking in nature is good for improving your well-being and raising your stress levels, including how you deal with stress. But if the stress does not go away, then one of the best ways to get rid of it is the help of psychologists, who will gladly conduct counseling for you.

Nature is a great thing, and you can use nature as a therapy after a busy day. It’s also a COVID-safe activity, so you don’t have to worry about contracting the virus if you’re out in nature all alone.

Nature Can Make You Feel Better

Nature is a way to naturally heal.

If you suffer from depression, a walk in nature can help with healing, and uplift the mood.

That’s because it is a calm and satisfying environment, and you can be alone in a calming place, feeling good and happy.

Nature is good for when you’re feeling bad. Cabin fever is very common amongst people, especially given recent events, and a walk in nature could be thee change that you need.

Nature is a strong force, and there is so much that you can do with it. Nature is a way to feel good, happy, and secure. It’s a way to grow and be stronger, and it can make you feel more refreshed.

Nature Can De-Stress You

Did you know taking a walk in nature can help with cortisol levels?

Our cortisol levels are pretty high, given life events and such, and nature has been shown to reduce the cortisol levels in the body.

The result: it can de-stress you and make you feel god.

If you’ve had a long day full of many ups and downs, a walk in nature is good for feeling better, and improving stress levels, including how you manage stress too.

Nature Helps with Focus

Do you feel like your attention is all over the place? You’re not alone.

Many of us feel distracted, and if you do feel distracted, a walk in nature can help you focus. It can help with processing information, and focusing your attention on solving problems as well.

While nature can help with focus, it can also be used to help uplift you, so when you come back, you can also focus on the tasks at hand.

It’s a great way to reset the mind, and very healthy for you too.

Beyond Nature

While nature is a form of valid therapy, it isn’t enough.

Therapy is a necessity, and it can help improve your life, and your mood.

There are many outlets out there you can use, but you can try Mind Diagnostics if you’ve tried nature as a therapy, but need something more. You can learn about yourself, and why you feel certain ways.

Nature is healing, and it’s good therapy for when you need it.

Marie Miguel Biography

Marie Miguel has been a writing and research expert for nearly a decade, covering a variety of health- related topics. Currently, she is contributing to the expansion and growth of a free online mental health resource with Mind-Diagnostics.org. With an interest and dedication to addressing stigmas associated with mental health, she continues to specifically target subjects related to anxiety and depression.

The post Nature as Therapy: Does it Help? appeared first on Green Prophet.

To say the very least, it’s an interesting time in the job market. Jobs are closing or restructuring due to the COVID-19 fiasco, and odds are, you may looking for a new job or wanting to transfer. Unless you can get yourself a self-sustaining cabin in the woods, then you may need to work somehow.

This is honestly a good time to get yourself in the green business. Carbon emissions are slowing because of the virus. Animals are taking over towns. And you deserve a career to help improve the planet when all is said and done.

One way you can do this is through the power of the Internet. Online counseling in the job market is valuable, and may be needed when you can no longer meet someone face-to-face. Here’s how an online job counselor can help.

Help Find Your Passion

Maybe you want to be in the business of going green, but you’re unsure how you can do it. Do you want to find the next renewable injury breakthrough? Do you want to start your own social NGO? Maybe you want to be a farmer who grows and sells their own food. All of these are noble choices that an online therapist can help you find.

An online therapist will talk about what skills you have and what careers can be a good fit for your job.

Helps You Find Your Experience

If you do find a job you want, you may feel like you’re not fit for the job because of experience requirements. Every job wants a certain amount of experience and a skill set that you may not have, and because of this, you may ignore jobs that would otherwise be a good fit for you.

However, there are ways for you to get a job even if you believe that you’re not a good fit for it. You’d be surprised by how many jobs will hire you even if you don’t have all the requirements. Having soft skills and some proof of your hardworking attitude are just a few ways you can get past the gatekeepers of a job. For example, getting hired in the organic food business can happen if you talk about your own diet and how good you are at prepping meals.

Getting You Out of the Job You Dislike

Life is too short for you to work at a job that makes you feel unhappy and uncomfortable. However, many people are in jobs that are repetitive and who treat them unfairly, especially in the middle of this crisis. With that said, a career counselor can help you make the transition. It can be hard to change a job, especially during this time. One way a career counselor may help is to teach you some work-from-home jobs or gigs you can take on in the meanwhile.

Helping You Have the Confidence

Sometimes, we don’t get the jobs we deserve because we aren’t confident enough. A little confidence goes a long way, and those who don’t have it may never apply for the job or have the confidence to do a follow-up call.

A counselor can help you get your confidence back, helping you to find reasons for your insecurities and allowing you to discover that sometimes, it’s okay for you to apply for a job even though you fear rejection.

Helping With Your Mental State

Besides, online job counseling, there is online therapy. Online therapy is a profession that is needed more than ever since many people are having to stay home and cope with businesses and the world itself closing down. Depression, anxiety, stress, and uncertainty are just a few symptoms you may be fearing. Online therapy can help you have some peace, and right now, it can be a safer option due to the fact that it is remote. 

Having a job is important, but so is keeping your mental state in check. A good therapist and counselor can help with all aspects of your life, so speak to an online therapist near you and see what they can do for you. Chances are, you can speak to a counselor who is a perfect fit.  If you’re dreaming about starting your own small business, ensure your success with our top resources:

Employment Law Changes for 2020

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Marie Miguel has been a writing and research expert for nearly a decade, covering a variety of health-related topics. Currently, she is contributing to the expansion and growth of a free online mental health resource with BetterHelp.com. With an interest and dedication to addressing stigmas associated with mental health, she continues to specifically target subjects related to anxiety and depression.

The post Getting Job Counseling for the Green Career You Deserve appeared first on Green Prophet.