If you feel as though no matter what you do, you just can’t unwind then you have nothing to worry about. It’s possible for you to make a positive change if you take the time to recognise your issue. If you want to find out more then simply take a look below.
Your Brain Wants a Dopamine Rush
Some people who have low levels of dopamine tend to crave things that are exciting or driven by dopamine. This is a common trait in those who have ADHD. If you feel as though relaxing is just another word for being bored then you may find yourself seeking big thrills all the time. You may throw yourself into a hobby rather than sitting down and giving your brain a chance to rest, or you may find that you end up going on a spontaneous walk or road trip at the weekend. You may even have an argument with your spouse, unintentionally, to get that dopamine rush. If you find yourself searching for dopamine then one thing you can do is find healthy ways to seek that excitement. You can increase the neurotransmitters in the brain naturally by taking the time to eat more protein. You also need to eat less carbohydrates while taking nutritional supplements. If you have been diagnosed with ADHD or if you feel as though you have symptoms, which don’t just come down to inattentiveness, but also difficulty with focus and zoning out, then you may want to see a doctor about that. Medication is one of the most effective ways for you to treat ADHD, and with it being so underdiagnosed, especially in women, it could be the solution to all of the problems you are having.
You are Too Emotional
When the emotional center of the brain is overactive, it can give you a lot of anxiety and depression. If you have this common pattern then you may find that you are forced to stay busy so you can distract yourself from all of the anxious thoughts and feelings you may be having. When the world comes down all around you, it’s like the worries and depression you have come into focus and you can’t seem to move past them. Relaxation is the best thing you can do here, even if you find it difficult. Practice mental hygiene by taking the time to challenge the automatic thoughts you may have. Supplements that calm the emotions or the fear center of the brain are all good things to be focusing on. Saffron, GABA and even omega-3 fatty acids are very good here, not to mention that bright light and aromatherapy can be helpful. Lavender is always a good thing for you to have in the home so try and keep that in mind.
Sympathetic Nervous System
Your nervous system is the fight-or-flight part of the brain and this is what makes you feel anxious or even afraid. Your parasympathetic nervous system is the relaxation response that helps you to calm down when you have had an adrenaline-filled experience. When you have a healthy nervous system, you may find that this works in concert to try and help you manage stress. At the end of the day, chronic stress or even prolonged trauma can also affect your body’s ability to unwind and it can also make you feel stuck. If this is the case then you may find that even when you try and relax, you just can’t shake feelings like this. If you do feel stuck then you need to try and calm down with meditation. If you are religious then you may find that prayer is a good way for you to get back in touch with yourself. It is also possible for you to take magnesium supplements, as a way to better support your mental health.
You Stress about Having to Relax
When relaxation is another thing on your long list of things to do, it can start to be counterproductive. If you approach things in this way all the time and if you have too much of a perfectionist attitude then you may find that over time, things backfire and this is the last thing you need. If you check your heart monitor every few seconds and if you take some time to breathe deeply and relax, you can see if your heart is slowing down. If it does then you may find that it’s anxiety that’s causing you these feelings and that you now have a tool to deal with that. Sometimes you just need to see a change rather than trying to envision it all in your mind, so try and keep this in mind if you can as it could make a major difference to your mental health.
You Fuel Your Brain
Another reason why you may be finding it hard to relax is if you are fuelling your brain with distressing news. You may find that you are hooked on reading stories in the news that put a pit in your stomach. If you do this then you may find that you are creating toxic thoughts that end up fuelling your brain’s fear response. It can be hard to relax when you feel constantly on edge and if this is the case then your brain will be trying to seek out the next impending thing that is right around the corner. If you want to do something about this then you need to try and sit back and relax a little. Limit how much time you spend on social media and subscribe to any news outlets if you can. If you do this then you will soon find that your mental health is better for it and that you are able to focus on the things that are making you feel good right now.
How to Make a Change
If you want to make a positive change to your mental health then you need to try and focus on what’s happening right now. Don’t let your mind move forward, and don’t let it stay stuck in the past. If you can focus on now then you will soon find that you are able to benefit yourself as well as those around you. If you want some help making a change or if you want to make a bigger difference in the way you feel then take a look below.
Play Games
One thing you can do if you want to help yourself is play some games. There are some games that are very good at helping you to relax, and some of them include Sudoku and chess. These games consume so much mental energy that they make it hard for your mind to go elsewhere which is sometimes all you need to try and take your mind away from the negativity you are experiencing so you can shift your mindset.
Watch a TV Show
Another thing you can do is sit down and watch one of your top TV shows. If you do this then you will soon find that you are able to get your mind absorbed into something else and that you are able to take a few hours for yourself. Watch something that makes you laugh or that makes you smile. If you can, don’t focus on watching things that are just not going to give you a positive mindset. You may find them enjoyable but the only thing it will do is heighten your mental load. If you want to help yourself here then make sure that you take the time to sit back and focus on what you can do to try and do to feel better about yourself.
Eat a Nice Meal
Sometimes you just need to sit back and enjoy a nice meal. When you do, you will soon find that it becomes easier for you to think about all of the good times you have and how even the smallest things are worth appreciating. If you can take the time to focus on things like this then you will soon find that it helps you to unwind and that it also gives you the chance to fill your stomach with something nutritious. Under times of intense stress, you may find that you end up struggling to get by and that you end up relying on junk food a lot of the time. This is the last thing you need, but there are things you can do to try and make your life easier and that includes making sure that you always have some nutritious food on the table.
If you want to help yourself even more then one thing you can do is take the time to focus on yourself and what your core needs are. If you can meet them effectively then this will help you to focus on what’s ahead so you can make the most out of what you are doing and the decisions you are making. The more you can a focus on the here and now, the better so be mindful of that if you can.
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