Anxiety. We all suffer from it from time to time, yet we don’t know what to do about it. Anxiety can keep us up at night and can interfere with our daily activities. Every doctor out there wants to put us on some type of medication to relieve our symptoms; however, there are simple things you can do to manage anxiety.

Here are 10 easy ways to overcome anxiety without medication – and change your life for the better.

1.) Stay off of Facebook.

One easy fix in helping lower your anxiety is to limit your time on Facebook. It is very easy to develop anxiety when you are viewing life through Facebook. We read how perfect everyone else has it and our stress levels increase as we question our own lives. Taking the time to stay off of Facebook can help eliminate the additional pressure we put on our self when we compare our life to the lives of our acquaintances on social media.

2.) Stop pleasing others & live your own life.

Another source of unnecessary anxiety stems from our need to please others. We spend countless hours trying to live our life according to what we believe others want from us. Once you stop trying to live life for your parents or spouse, you can manage anxiety and live your own life. Naturally, trying to mold yourself to suit the needs of someone else can be exhausting. Eventually, you will find that living your life for yourself will ease up tension that you never noticed you even had.

3.) Keep a journal.

Sometimes we have anxiety for no reason and cannot control anxiety without medication because we simply do not know the source. Begin keeping a journal and write things down. The writing process is extremely therapeutic and provides an opportunity to review what events may be contributing to your anxiety or triggering negative emotions. Writing has been a proven method in helping people achieve solid mental health.

4.) Stop comparing yourself to everyone else.

Another way to control anxiety without medication is to stop comparing yourself to others. No wonder we feel anxiety if we think we always need to be like other people. Quit. When we compare ourselves to someone else, more often times than not, we feel inadequate and insecure. Keep in mind, the person you see with the “perfect” life or body is struggling with their own inadequacies. Stop focusing on other people and work on bettering yourself.

5.) Take vitamins.

Taking vitamins is another alternative to seeking medication for anxiety. Our bodies naturally need certain nutrients, so it is no surprise that we may feel extra anxiety when we lack nutrients. More specifically, vitamin B and fish oil are great supplements in mood enhancement. Begin adding vitamins to your daily diet and watch for positive changes in your anxiety levels.

6.) Take the time to talk to other people.

Talking to people is a great way to relieve anxiety. It doesn’t matter who, but just taking the time out of your day to say hello or smile at someone can make a huge difference in elevating your mood and lowering anxiety. Try it. Human interaction is a great tool for feeling better instantly. Not to mention, by reaching out and saying hello, you could potentially make the day of someone else. Which in turn, will create added feel-good points for you.

7.) Pray to God.

Anxiety can also stem from feeling like our life doesn’t have a purpose. Pray to God and commit your life to Jesus. Ask Him to guide you each day, to forgive you of your sins and to pour His spirit into your heart. Remember, you can do all things through Christ who gives you strength! He is the Prince of Peace and He wants you to trust Him. Here’s what Jesus told us about worrying:

In Matthew 6:25-34 Jesus says, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

8.) Create goals for yourself.

Sometimes we have unnecessary anxiety because we lack direction in our life. If we aren’t working toward something, then we feel a bit overwhelmed with life. You can overcome anxiety without meds by simply picking a goal in life to work on. Maybe you want to lose weight and focus on losing 5 pounds in a month. Regardless of what the goal is, giving your mind something to focus on helps take it off of things that are creating our anxiety.

9.) Allow yourself quiet time.

We live in a fast paced world where we are trying to focus on everything else but ourselves. Allowing yourself some uninterrupted quiet time can do wonders for your anxiety. Try taking a yoga class, get a massage, or just sit quietly with a good book for small portions of your day. Just try adding 15 minutes of quiet time to your day and watch the benefits add up.

10.) Happiness is a choice.

No matter what, remember that happiness is a choice. You can choose to overcome anxiety without meds every day and decide how you want to feel. It may not feel easy at first, but with a little practice, happiness can become a habit. Each day, make a point to bring happiness into your life. Start off with a smile and go from there. Eventually, you will learn that happiness is just a state of mind and you have the ability to control it on a daily basis. Now that’s something to smile about!