Calm a worried mind
Follow the tailored-for-you movement, sleep, food, and supplement practices to support your pathway to calm.
What is the Worried Mind Subtype?
It is your nature to be resilient. Balance is your default state. But for many people, the one thing keeping them from it is the activity of their own mind. When you're experiencing anxiousness in the form of worry and nervousness, the root of the problem is usually that you are thinking too much.
The human mind is remarkable in its ability to think things through, to reason, to consider all options and then make a decision—and these are helpful, life-giving qualities. But in an anxious state, the mind gets carried away. Rather than helpfully solving problems by processing information, thinking becomes its own problem. This leaves you feeling nervous, unsettled, and fearful. The brain then seeks information to find reassurance, but an overload of information can make an already-anxious mind even more unsettled, worried, and scared. The brain's attempt to solve the problem of anxiousness only fuels the fire, creating a vicious cycle.
Ultimately, the answer for a worried mind is to learn to tame it, but this is hard to do when the mind feels like it is on fire. We have found it helps to first add calming supports to slow things down so that you have a fighting chance to regain mastery of your own thoughts. You can find some key supports in the "Tools & Practices" section at the bottom of this page.
How the Worried Mind Subtype can flare and what it feels like
Feeling stressed or anxious from time to time is part of being human. You probably know how anxiousness can hijack your body and mind and spread like wildfire. If this is your experience, you are certainly not alone. Each year, 1 in 5 American adults suffer from an anxiety disorder, and nearly one third will experience an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives.1
The consequences of chronic stress are even more prevalent, including the explosion of stress-related illnesses like heart disease,2 Alzheimer’s, chronic fatigue, high blood pressure, asthma, immune system diseases, and cancer. All of these disorders are linked to unhealthy levels of stress and stress hormones.3
Some people, due to genetics or early childhood experiences, seem wired for anxiousness. For others, anxiousness is triggered by stress. Fortunately, we are more than our biology or our life circumstances. It is possible to dampen the flames of anxiousness.
The role of the stress response
The stress response is our normal human reaction to feeling threatened. Sensing danger, the brain activates the adrenal glands which then prepare us for action (this is often called the “fight or flight” response). This response is not bad in and of itself. In fact, studies show that short-term stress can even be good for us.
However, if you are prone to anxiousness, the stress response acts as an accelerant, adding fuel to the fire in your mind. So while it is important to calm the mind, this is often not enough to get a worried mind back in balance. You must also take measures to tame the stress response and eventually to address the sources of your stress. Otherwise, the embers of anxiousness will stay lit, ready to flame up again as soon as the conditions are right.
Sources:
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Kessler, R. C., et al. (2005). Lifetime prevalence and age-of-onset distributions of DSM-IV disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. Archives of General Psychiatry, 62(6), 593-602. More >>>
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Gomez-Caminero, A., et al. (2005). Does Panic Disorder Increase the Risk of Coronary Heart Disease? A Cohort Study of a National Managed Care Database. Psychosomatic Medicine, 67(5), 688-691. More >>>
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Stein, J., et al. (2008). Environmental Threats to Healthy Aging: With a Closer Look at Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases. More >>>
We offer specific tools, practices, and strategies to balance and calm a worried mind.
See the key tools below to help you reclaim your calm.
Nourish your worried mind
Looking to build a strong foundation? Start by giving your brain what it needs to find its balance. Discover the best way to nourish yourself, including the specific foods & supplements that calm a worried mind.
Flourish together in the Joy Lab.
Joy Lab is our soon-to-be launched training program to support mental health more naturally. You'll move through a mind-body program that includes monthly group talks, weekly email boosts, and 5% off purchases from our NMH store.
How to calm a worried mind
Try the simple steps below to help soothe your mind.
Restful Sleep
Warm foods
Intentional exercise
Supplements for a worried mind
Targeted supplements can quickly calm a worried mind while foundational supplements support ongoing resilience. The targeted supplements may need 30-60 days of consistent use.** After that period, you may continue using them if needed. Stick with the foundational supplements daily or seasonally, as desired.
Remember: Check with your health care practitioner before beginning any supplements.
Targeted Supplements
1. Peace of Mind (L-theanine)
2. Relax Powder (magnesium)
3. Calm Days (herbal stress support)
Foundational Supplements
1. Nourish (multivitamin/mineral)
2. Strengthen (omega-3)
3. Illuminate (vitamin D3)
* Consult your healthcare practitioner prior to use. Individuals taking medication should discuss potential interactions with their healthcare practitioner.
** These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
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Learn foundational strategies to support your mental health and resilience.
Explore the articles below and learn our favorite foundational steps to help balance your mood.
Brain Chemistry 101
Learning a bit of brain chemistry can help you create a healthy, well-functioning brain and a good, sustainable mood. In this article, we present you a simple way of understanding and talking about this very complex subject.
Sleep & Resilience
Your sleep, mood, and brain function are intimately related. Scientific studies tell us that our emotional states affect sleep and that sleep affects emotions. You can create better sleep with fairly simple strategies.
The Resilient Diet
We have created the Resilient Diet to integrate seamlessly into your daily life. It is not a set of restrictive rules or detailed recipes. Instead, the Resilient Diet is made up of six broad guidelines or principles.
Resilient Movement Plans
Scientific research has shown that moving our bodies more frequently has a significant positive impact on mental health and can even help you grow a bigger, healthier, and better-connected brain.
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MEDICAL DISCLAIMER
This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Consult your doctor or other qualified health professional regarding specific health questions. Individuals providing content to this website take no responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons reading or following the information in this educational content. It is also essential to consult your physician or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program.
