Another large study found people who drink five cups or more of water per day were at lower risk of depression and anxiety. In comparison, drinking less than two cups per day doubles the risk. This link was less noticeable for anxiety alone (although feelings of depression and anxiety often influence each other).
In one 2018 study of over 3,000 adults, those who drank more water had a lower risk of anxiety and depression than those who drank less water. Though the connection between dehydration and depression was stronger, researchers found that anxiety was higher in those who didn't drink enough water.
First, you may want to start with a simple deep breathing exercise called the 5-5-5 method. To do this, you breathe in for 5 seconds, hold your breath for 5 seconds, and then breathe out for 5 seconds. You can continue this process until your thoughts slow down or you notice some relief.
Dehydration can sometimes cause feelings of anxiety, depression, and fatigue. To avoid dehydration, be sure to drink plenty of water and other fluids throughout the day. If you're feeling anxious and think you might be dehydrated, try drinking some water.
A little anxiety is fine, but long-term anxiety may cause more serious health problems, such as high blood pressure (hypertension). You may also be more likely to develop infections. If you're feeling anxious all the time, or it's affecting your day-to-day life, you may have an anxiety disorder or a panic disorder.
Water has been shown to have natural calming properties, likely as a result of addressing dehydration's effects on the body and brain. Drinking enough water is an important step in managing your anxiety. Even if you're not experiencing anxiety, drinking sufficient water can create feelings of relaxation.
Dehydration rarely causes anxiety on its own, but if you're not drinking enough water you may be putting yourself at risk for worse anxiety symptoms now, and the development of greater anxiety in the future. Thus, especially if you are prone to anxiety, you will want to work to ensure you are properly hydrated daily.
During dehydration, we struggle to get the chemicals required to produce serotonin into our brain. Being just half a litre dehydrated may also increase the stress hormone cortisol, which has been associated with a range of mental disorders, including anxiety.
The four levels of anxiety are mild anxiety, moderate anxiety, severe anxiety, and panic level anxiety, each of which is classified by the level of distress and impairment they cause.
One important step in reversing the anxiety cycle is gradually confronting feared situations. If you do this, it will lead to an improved sense of confidence, which will help reduce your anxiety and allow you to go into situations that are important to you.
When you are overhydrated, you may experience low blood sugar as the excess water in the body dilutes the blood's sugar (glucose) content. Low blood sugar may cause you to experience tremors, pallor, anxiety, increased heart rate, sweating, and palpitations, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
The B-vitamins in bananas, like folate and vitamin B6, are key to the production of serotonin, which can help improve your mood and reduce anxiety.
Anxiety often comes with an increased heart rate and high blood pressure. Exposure to cold water lowers the heart rate, which makes you feel calmer and thus less anxious.
Dehydration also depletes the levels of other amino acids in your brain, leading to feelings of anxiety, dejection, irritability, and inadequacy. The third most common way dehydration can lead to depression is by increasing stress in your body.
Lower risk of anxiety and depression:
A study conducted in 2018 demonstrated that people who drank less water had a higher risk of depression and anxiety. On the other hand, individuals who drank a sufficient amount of water daily were more likely to be mentally healthy and happy.
Drinking plain water is associated with decreased risk of depression and anxiety in adults: Results from a large cross-sectional study - PMC. The .
Staying hydrated, like getting enough sleep, directly affects your body's cortisol levels and can therefore reduce stress. Often, at the end of a session, we encourage our clients to remember to drink plenty of water.
This is because water triggers the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for the body's 'rest and digest' response. In this state, your heart rate and blood pressure lowers, your digestion is stimulated and your body is able to relax.
One study found a two-way relationship between overthinking and other mental health issues. Hafeez calls it a “chicken-and-egg” situation: High levels of stress, anxiety, and depression can contribute to overthinking. Meanwhile, overthinking may be associated with increased stress, anxiety, and depression.