What can I take to calm down my anxiety?
William Rodriguez
Published Jan 20, 2026
12 Ways to Calm Your Anxiety
- Avoid caffeine. Caffeine is well-known as an anxiety inducer . ...
- Avoid alcohol. Feelings of anxiety can be so overwhelming that you might feel the urge to have a cocktail to help you relax. ...
- Write it out. ...
- Use fragrance. ...
- Talk to someone who gets it. ...
- Find a mantra. ...
- Walk it off. ...
- Drink water.
How can I calm my anxiety fast?
How to calm down quickly
- Breathe. One of the best things you can do when you start to feel that familiar panicky feeling is to breathe. ...
- Name what you're feeling. ...
- Try the 5-4-3-2-1 coping technique. ...
- Try the “File It” mind exercise. ...
- Run. ...
- Think about something funny. ...
- Distract yourself. ...
- Take a cold shower (or an ice plunge)
How can I treat anxiety naturally?
10 natural remedies for anxiety
- Stay active. ...
- Steer clear of alcohol. ...
- Consider quitting smoking cigarettes. ...
- Limit caffeine intake. ...
- Prioritize getting a good night's rest. ...
- Meditate and practice mindfulness. ...
- Eat a balanced diet. ...
- Practice deep breathing.
What is a drug that calms you down?
Types of Anti-anxiety Medications (Benzodiazepines)
Benzodiazepines most commonly used to treat anxiety disorders are clonazepam (Rivotril)*, alprazolam (Xanax) and lorazepam (Ativan).
Is there anything I can take over the counter for anxiety?
There are no over the counter medications for anxiety since any medication that affects the brain needs to be carefully monitored, and because the medication is not the only treatment a person should take. Luckily, there are many natural treatments and exercises that can help with anxiety in its place.
39 related questions foundDoes Benadryl help with anxiety?
Advantages. One of the biggest advantages of using an OTC medication such as Benadryl to treat anxiety is that it is fast-acting and convenient. These qualities can be helpful if you need to reduce symptoms of mild anxiety quickly. Because Benadryl causes many people to feel drowsy, it can also help with sleep.
What is the 3-3-3 rule for anxiety?
Follow the 3-3-3 rule.
Look around you and name three things you see. Then, name three sounds you hear. Finally, move three parts of your body — your ankle, fingers, or arm.
How can I ground myself anxiety?
Once you find your breath, go through the following steps to help ground yourself:
- 5: Acknowledge FIVE things you see around you. ...
- 4: Acknowledge FOUR things you can touch around you. ...
- 3: Acknowledge THREE things you hear. ...
- 2: Acknowledge TWO things you can smell. ...
- 1: Acknowledge ONE thing you can taste.
Why do I have anxiety for no reason?
Anxiety can be caused by a variety of things: stress, genetics, brain chemistry, traumatic events, or environmental factors. Symptoms can be reduced with anti-anxiety medication. But even with medication, people may still experience some anxiety or even panic attacks.
Can Tylenol reduce anxiety?
Researchers have found a new potential use for the over-the-counter pain drug Tylenol. Typically known to relieve physical pain, the study suggests the drug may also reduce the psychological effects of fear and anxiety over the human condition, or existential dread.
Does melatonin help with anxiety?
Melatonin, a hormone produced by your body, has been shown to improve symptoms of anxiety. Supplementing with melatonin for anxiety can improve sleep quality, regulate circadian rhythm, and ease negative feelings associated with anxiousness. Your hormone levels play a key role in your emotional state.
Why do antihistamines give me anxiety?
In some people, taking Benadryl can actually have a stimulant effect, which is called paradoxical excitation. People that experience this after taking Benadryl may report feeling: excitable. nervous.
Does Claritin help with anxiety?
Most antihistamines are known to cause drowsiness during the day. This may be a problem for people who operate heavy machinery or otherwise have to remain alert. These drugs also aren't effective for severe anxiety or depression, and they're not a long-term treatment for any anxiety disorder.
Which antihistamine is best for anxiety?
Hydroxyzine's unique effect on serotonin is likely why it's the only antihistamine used for anxiety. While hydroxyzine can be used to treat many different types of anxiety disorders, it is used most often for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), especially when it is associated with insomnia.
Can Zyrtec help anxiety?
Antihistamines work by having a calming effect on the brain, helping you to feel less anxious.
How much benadryl do I take for anxiety?
For adults and children ages 12 years and older, the dosage is 25 to 50 milligrams (mg) every 4 to 6 hours as needed. For children ages 6 to 11 years old, the dosage is 12.5 to 25 mg every 4 to 6 hours as needed. For children under 6 years old, you should always speak with your child's doctor.
Does magnesium help with anxiety?
Research suggests that taking magnesium for anxiety can work well. Studies have found that feelings of fear and panic can be significantly reduced with greater magnesium intake, and the good news is that the results aren't limited to generalized anxiety disorder.
Can melatonin worsen anxiety?
Irritability Too much melatonin can also affect mood. You may feel cranky, anxious, or have periods of depression.
Does ibuprofen calm you down?
For years, researchers have known that physical pain relievers such as ibuprofen can also help ease emotional pain, but new research suggests that ibuprofen has contrasting effects on men and women: Men who take the drug report harsher feelings of rejection, and women report feeling better.
Is aspirin good for anxiety?
Conclusions. Aspirin use, especially current, long-term, and low-dose use, was associated with a decreased risk of depression, anxiety, and stress-related disorders following cancer diagnosis, while the use of non-aspirin NSAIDs was associated with an increased risk, compared with no use of NSAIDs.
Do painkillers help anxiety?
Researchers find that over-the-counter pain medication can alleviate anxiety.
Do Narcotics help anxiety?
Opioid drugs work by mimicking natural opiates and linking to the same receptors in the brain, meaning that their immediate effect is to reduce anxiety in the same way that endorphins would.
Does tramadol help with anxiety?
Tramadol reduces anxiety-related and depression-associated behaviors presumably induced by pain in the chronic constriction injury model of neuropathic pain in rats.
Does ibuprofen make you anxious?
Side effects of NSAIDs include diarrhea, constipation, dizziness, bloating, gas, ringing in the ears, nausea, anxiety, vomiting, fluid retention, swelling and skin peeling and rashes.
Do anti inflammatories help with anxiety?
Surprisingly, many patients with depression and/or anxiety receive as much benefit from anti-inflammatory medications, such as aspirin and ibuprofen, as they do from antidepressants and anxiolytics (Berk, et al, 2013; Hamzalou, 2016).