Stress levels among Americans have been on an unprecedented high in recent years and continue to be on the rise. While stress can usually be caused or worsened by external factors and circumstances, it can also be caused by lack of sleep, which, quite ironically, can also be a symptom of stress.
But luckily for us, there are ways to relieve stress, anxiety, and sleeplessness in one fell swoop without turning to more dire alternatives! Try these 5 natural sleep aids and stress supplements to boost your mood and sleep quality!
What is stress?
In this day and age, it’s hard to find anyone who hasn’t been affected by stress at least once in their lives. Stress, as we know it, is the state of increased mental tension and worry usually brought about by difficult situations and circumstances. Stress is a natural human response and isn’t a cause of worry by itself.
Anxiety can also be a natural response to stress, and stress may also breed anxiety. It’s normal to feel both every once in a while. They can be a perfectly natural reaction to external factors. It’s how we deal and cope with stress and anxiety that can often be the problem.
Both stress and anxiety can impact our lives negatively when we don’t know how to best manage it. Too much stress could lead to more distressing emotions, lack of energy and motivation, and lack of sleep, among other symptoms. A lack of sleep may also lead to more stress, as will most of the byproducts of stress.
Sleep-Stress Cycle: How Stress Affects Sleep
As we mentioned before, stress can affect how well we sleep and vice versa. This seemingly never-ending circle is called the Sleep-Stress Cycle and shows just how intricately connected stress and sleep are. This cycle shows that higher than normal stress and anxiety levels could result in sleeplessness or restless sleep. Inversely, a decreased quality and duration of sleep could foster more stress and anxiety.
This can be because stress causes the mind to race, makes us feel restless, and may keep us up at night, while not getting enough hours of sleep could lead to irritability, lack of energy, fatigue or sluggishness, and poor memory, judgment, or mood — all of which can result in lowered cognitive performance and health issues, on top of more stress.
As you can see, you can’t have one without possibly getting the other, and we know — it seems like a never-ending cycle. But not to worry! There is a way to break the curse and lessen both! Introducing the best natural sleep aids and supplements for stress!
5 Supplements for Stress & Sleep
Lively Vitamin Co. Adrenal Boost
Our adrenal glands are a pair of triangular glands, with one above each of our kidneys, that produce hormones to help regulate our body’s response to stress. They also support our metabolism, immunity, blood pressure, and other essential functions. When our brain perceives a stressful or “dangerous” situation, it sends signals to our adrenal glands to release adrenaline hormones so that our body reacts appropriately to the stressful situation. It increases our heartbeat, pulse rate, oxygen intake, alertness, and heightens our senses.
You may know this as our “fight or flight” response. It’s our body’s natural way of dealing with stressful situations, though it might often mistake everyday stressors as actual life-threatening danger. However, when we’re put under too much or constant stress, our adrenal glands can grow tired or fatigued just like us, or we might suffer from an excess of adrenaline, both of which are not beneficial for our long-term health. It can also affect our metabolism, immune response, and blood pressure levels.
That’s where adrenal fatigue supplements like Lively Vitamin Co. Adrenal Boost come in! This handy adrenal support supplement balances and boosts adrenal function so you can manage adrenal fatigue while making sure that your adrenal glands are helping you fight off stress. With the power of adaptogenic herbs which amplify our body’s adaptability to anxiety, you’ll be much more prepared for all the everyday stressors in your life!
Gaia Herbs Professional Solutions HPA Axis Sleep Cycle
So now you know about one function of the adrenal glands, but did you know that they play another role in regulating our stress response? In fact, the adrenal glands are part of what is called the HPA Axis, or the Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis — the main players in this game.
Don’t let all the convoluted scientific terms confuse you. The process is quite simple! When the hypothalamus, located just above the brainstem, receives signals that our body is in a stressful or frightening situation, it releases corticotropin-releasing hormone, or CRH for short, into the bloodstream. The release of CRH then signals the pituitary gland to release adrenocorticotropic hormone, or ACTH, into the bloodstream.
These travel to the adrenal cortex, which is the outer layer of the adrenal glands, to produce the hormone cortisol. Cortisol helps our body deal with a stressful situation, much like adrenaline. It increases blood pressure and glucose levels in your blood, which increase cardiac activity and energy to help deal with the situation at hand. Cortisol also inhibits activities that are considered less important or useless in dealing with the stress, such as reproduction and digestion.
When the hypothalamus detects too-high cortisol levels, it creates a negative feedback response, which tells the HPA Axis to shut off the stress response, deeming the stressor appropriately dealt with. It’s right there in the name — HPA: From the hypothalamus, then the pituitary, then the adrenals.
However, when we encounter extreme stress on a daily or constant basis, it can overstimulate our HPA Axis and lead to a prolonged state of heightened cortisol levels. This can impair our immune system, memory, mood, cognition, and metabolism, plus increases anxiety. It can also disrupt the HPA Axis’ normal function for the long-term.
To ensure that your HPA Axis and stress response continue working properly, Gaia HPA Axis Sleep Cycle Sleep Aid offers a wonderful blend of adaptogenic mushrooms to promote calm, relaxation, and rest. They soothe an overstimulated HPA Axis and have you falling asleep in no time. Sometimes HPA Axis dysfunction can keep us from getting the rest we need and deserve, but with this effective mushroom supplement, you can regulate your stress response and feel less anxiety-ridden in no time!
Medterra CBD Gummies Sleep Tight
When it comes to stress relief, you may find nothing better than CBD gummies for sleep!
CBD is an excellent supplement for sleep and anxiety relief. It relaxes the mind and body, helps you get ready for sleep, and boosts the body’s adaptability to everyday stressors. Medterry CBD Gummies Sleep Tight have the winning combination of CBD and melatonin to promote a relaxed state of mind and help you fall asleep faster. Additionally, they improve sleep duration and quality and regulate circadian rhythm and normal sleep patterns.
These stress relief gummies are more than just your usual melatonin gummies. They’re completely THC-free and contain other powerful ingredients like L-theanine, passionflower, chamomile, and lemon balm. This natural sleep aid could be the perfect push you need to send you off to Dreamland!
Terry Naturally AnxioCalm
If CBD or melatonin gummies don’t quite do it for you, or if you’d rather just find a way to relieve stress without feeling drowsy, Terry Naturally AnxioCalm benefits is a stress supplement that can ensure exactly that!
This natural anxiety relief supplement is made with coneflower (echinacea) to ease tension, manage our body’s natural stress response, control excessive anxiety, amplify concentration, and boost cognitive function — all without making you sleepy or tired! For that quick little boost of energy and focus in your day, you can trust the best supplements for anxiety like Terry Naturally AnxioCalm!
Nasadol BioSpectrum CBD Nasal Spray Extra Strength 10ml
Here’s another CBD supplement that brings you a combination of CBD for stress relief and the best CBD for anxiety. Nasadol Biospectrum CBD Nasal Spray Extra Strength 10ml not only clears your sinuses, but gives you fast-acting pain relief, an improved inflammatory response, and an end to your late-night “busy brain” and anxious thoughts.
This CBD spray is designed for quick application and even quicker relief. Nasadol Biospectrum CBD Nasal Spray is the best CBD for anxiety and will soon be your new bedside companion for sleepless or restless nights.
5 Tips for Better Sleep
In addition to these natural sleep aids and stress supplements, you can complement your rest with these healthy practices for better and longer sleep.
- Sleep in a comfortable bed. It may be tempting to spread out on the couch after a long day and conk out in front of the TV, but we promise your bed will feel much more comfortable and lead to much better sleep.
- Stick to a consistent sleep-wake cycle. It can help to have a routine and to stick to it as much as possible. That way your body gets used to falling asleep and waking up at the same time everyday.
- Manage caffeine and alcohol intake before bed. Both caffeine and alcohol can disrupt our sleep cycle. It’s best to avoid drinking caffeine and alcohol at least 3 hours before bedtime.
- Exercise. It actually works! Exercise doesn’t only help with symptoms of depression and anxiety, but it can also leave you feeling more exhausted afterwards, which can help you fall asleep faster.
- Create a dark and relaxing environment. Make sure the room is dim, quiet, and at a cool, comfortable temperature. This also means shutting off bright electronic devices, like your phone, TV, or computer. You can also meditate before bed to feel calmer and more relaxed.
5 Tips to Reduce Stress & Sleep Better
While you can’t exactly get rid of the root cause of all your stress, you can still find ways to manage its effects so it doesn’t impact your life too much. In addition to these natural sleep aids and stress supplements, try these tips to reduce stress and sleep better!
- Know when to take a break. Hearing about distressing news and events can affect your mental wellbeing. Overworking yourself also isn’t a good sign. In both instances, if you start feeling overwhelmed, know when to step back and take a break for as long as you need to.
- Release tension with physical exercise. We mentioned how exercise can help with symptoms of depression and anxiety. In addition to leading to more restful sleep, you can release some long-held tension and have an outlet for your stress.
- Practice mindfulness and meditation. Mindfulness is all about being aware of the present, living in the moment, and being “in the now” non-judgmentally. Mindful meditation can help with stress management and symptoms of anxiety disorders.
- Spend time with the people you love. Take some time out of your day to be with family, friends, and significant others whom you love and cherish. Quality time with people you care about and who you like spending time with can significantly alleviate stress.
- Indulge in hobbies. What kind of activities usually help you relax? Maybe reading a good book, taking a walk, watching your favorite movie, or listening to music. It wouldn’t hurt to indulge in whatever hobbies help take your mind off of your worries.
Buy Anxiety, Stress & Sleep Supplements for Less Stress and More Rest!
Now you can bid stress, anxiety, and sleeplessness goodbye with these supplements for stress, all designed to keep you happy and flourishing! Be sure to check with your local health store for these products.
