By Natasha Turner, ND

Anxiety is one of the worst feelings in the world. A constant, reoccurring feeling of fear, often undefined and its source unknown, it can be frustrating to both the sufferer and surrounding family and friends. Someone who has never experienced anxiety may suggest to ”just stop it” or “shake it off”, but the rest of us who have know it is never that simple.

More Common Than you Might Think
Recent studies have found that as many as one in two people frequently experience anxiety symptoms such as excessive sweating, dry mouth, increased heart rate, increased frequency or urgency of urination (especially in women), ruminating or persistent negative thought patterns, tension in the neck and shoulders, fatigue and headaches. Anxiety disorder is a serious medical illness that affects millions of adults and, as more recently discovered, teens, making anti-anxiety and antidepression medications like Paxil® or Zolft® top-selling prescriptions. These disorders fill people's lives with overwhelming anxiety and fear. Unlike the relatively mild, brief anxiety caused by a stressful event, such as a business presentation or a blind date, anxiety disorders are chronic, relentless and can grow progressively worse if not treated.

The importance of getting help for chronic anxiety or excessive worrying cannot be emphasized enough. Your thoughts have a direct impact on your physiology by altering hormonal levels that determine cellular function. For instance, chronic anxiety elevates your stress hormone, cortisol, and depletes one of our “happy hormones”, serotonin. Elevated stress hormones cause increased blood sugar levels. This increase was useful to provide energy to escape from the stressful event when we were hunters and gatherers, but not so much today when we are sedentary at our desks or in our cars. Elevated cortisol levels have also been linked to osteoporosis, depression, memory loss, weakened immune system function, heart disease, diabetes and even cancer. See the Truestar Stress Page for more information on the detrimental effects of stress.

Quick Fixes are not the Solution
Many people opt for a drink of alcohol or look to sugary foods for comfort. These cause an initial increase in hormones which make us feel good, but over time they deplete hormone levels. This worsens the problem and causes irritability, moodiness, anxiety and even depression. Sometimes prescription drugs like Ativan or Valium are given for anxiety reduction. These are highly addictive and should be used in very limited amounts. Even the antidepressant medications often given for anxiety are not without harmful side effects and can be difficult to come off of.

Treatment Options
There is no magic bullet for anxiety. Nutritional changes, lifestyle changes, vitamins and supplements and exercise must be incorporated into any effective anxiety treatment plan. Furthermore, for true healing to occur after the overt symptoms of anxiety have subsided, steps must be taken to rebuild the body from the detrimental effects of chronic anxiety. This involves repair of the immune system and strengthening of the adrenal glands. The adrenal glands (also known as our stress glands) release adrenalin and cortisol in response to physical, emotional, mental or environmental stress. A sign that your adrenal function has become compromised is dizziness when you stand up quickly. Compromised immunity is the occurrence of frequent cold and flu or perhaps the sudden development of allergies.

Fortunately, effective natural medicines, lifestyle changes, therapy techniques (particularly cognitive therapy) and, as a final option, prescriptions are available. These treatments can help most people with anxiety disorders lead productive, fulfilling lives. If you think you have an anxiety disorder, do not delay your search for information and treatment. Begin your quest for inner calm and balance by considering the recommendations provided here.

Exercise.

Eliminate caffeine and sugar and eat balanced meals.

Decrease stress hormone (cortisol) with phosphatidylserine and herbs ashwagandha or relora.

Boost your feel-good hormone (serotonin) levels with 5-HTP or tryptophan.

Increase levels of the calming brain chemical GABA. 

Get your mercury levels tested.

Like many antidepressant medications, most of the treatment options provided here take four weeks to reach full effectiveness. Be sure to consult with your licensed health care provider or therapist and if there is no improvement in symptoms after this period of time, seek out other viable treatment options that may be available for you.

References