Anxiety

Everybody has experienced a little anxiety from time to time. Anxiety can even happen to the calmest of people. Stress can lead to anxiety; before you know it, you can feel like your stomach is in knots and your heart is pounding.

Sometimes stress can get out of control and impact your quality of life. Some people are born with varying levels of anxiety disorder, while others experience it due to a life-changing event. Whatever the cause, anxiety can be challenging to live with.

There seems to be a national anxiety epidemic because minor tranquilizers are one of America's most widely prescribed drugs. Still, when you are physically healthy and biologically and chemically balanced, you should have no anxiety symptoms other than in exceptional situations.

Most tranquilizers are addictive and not meant to be used long-term. When used for prolonged periods, they can damage memory and risk adding to the problem for which they were prescribed.

Anxiety can be a symptom of other medical conditions. Anyone who suddenly develops anxiety to the extent that it interferes with their normal daily activities could suffer from a serious medical problem and should seek an evaluation by a qualified medical professional and take appropriate medical action.

Home Remedies and Natural Cures for Anxiety

Many people seek medical attention for anxiety, only to find out they are offered pills like anti-depressants to calm their moods. While medication can help, it can sometimes lead to dependency or other harmful side effects. Here are some natural home remedies to help to reduce anxiety and hopefully improve quality of life.

Nutrition and Lifestyle

Getting plenty of rest, eliminating or restricting caffeine, and eating a proper diet can help reduce anxiety issues in natural, healthy ways.

Take steps to reduce or eliminate the cause of your stress if you know what provokes it. Talking with a trusted friend or therapist or being evaluated by a psychologist or psychiatrist (if medical conditions have been ruled out) can benefit those with anxiety.

Certain dietary deficiencies can cause anxiety, so help yourself by improving your diet. Supplement with vitamins B1, B3, B6, B9 (Folate), B12, calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, omega-3 fatty acids (like fish or flaxseed oil), and a lack of specific amino acids like L-tryptophan and taurine, and GABA can make anxiety worse.

Taurine is an amino acid that plays a significant role in the brain as an inhibitor, which means it calms or stabilizes an excited brain. It has anti-anxiety and anti-convulsant properties and has helped control migraines, insomnia, restlessness, irritability, alcoholism, depression, and mania. The recommended dosage is 500 to 5000 mg daily, divided into three to four doses.

Adrenal fatigue is not an approved medical condition; it describes a deficiency in a body's organs after long-term stress. Years of "fight or flight" conditions make the adrenal glands wear out and become sluggish. Taking a supplement to support the adrenal glands can help reduce the fatigue and listlessness that sometimes accompanies stress. Look for herbal preparations that contain Ashwagandha, Holy Basil, and Schisandra.

Avoid Caffeine and Sugar

An anxious individual should limit or eliminate caffeine and refined sugars. Anxiety can already make a person jittery enough, so it's important not to introduce new stimulants that can add to the symptoms.

Finding substitutes for sugary, caffeinated drinks such as hot or iced tea, fruit juices, and refreshing lemon water with honey are a healthy choice that can reduce anxiety and support a healthier lifestyle.

Avoid Alcohol

It's pretty common for people with anxiety to try to self-medicate with alcohol. The problem with relying on this method is that if addiction develops, you now have worse problems compounded with what caused the anxiety.

Herbal Tea

Tea is a favorite remedy for calming frayed nerves. Tea doesn't just soothe the body but also the mind. You can find many calming herbal teas in the grocery store to help relieve anxiety.

Look for herbs such as chamomile, cloves, lavender, and orange blossoms that can calm the body and the mind.

Lemon Balm

Lemon balm is a wonderful lemon-scented plant that has a calming effect. It can be eaten in salads, dried, and boiled into a tea, to be sweetened with honey and drank to calm anxiety. Lemon balm is especially beneficial as a bedtime drink. It is traditionally used to restore nerves and helps relieve anxiety attacks, palpitations with nausea, mild insomnia, and phobias.

Lemon balm combines well with peppermint to stimulate circulation and can also be used for colds and flu.

Aromatherapy

The sense of smell can help reduce anxiety. When one breathes in certain scents, it can immediately calm the body and quiet the mind, allowing the individual to ease their worries and relax their mind.

Lavender is a favorite calming aromatherapy scent. Try it with a scented candle, a warm bath, or a diffuser. Aromatherapy can be a potent natural cure for anxiety. Other relaxing and calming scents are vanilla, bergamot, rose, sweet orange, sandalwood, and chamomile.

Physical Activity/Meditation/Yoga

Staying active can help your emotional and physical health and relieve anxiety after working out. Meditation and yoga are good ways to help manage stressful thoughts and stress and regulate emotions. Biking, walking, jogging, group exercise classes, dancing, and other aerobic activities can be beneficial to calm an overactive mind.