5 More Natural Solutions For Anxiety

Experiencing some anxiety, which is the “fight or flight” or stress response, is common.

Most people will experience anxiety at some point in their life, especially during stressful situations, like an important interview or exam.

However, experiencing anxiety constantly or having an anxious reaction to inappropriate circumstances can significantly affect your day-to-day life.

This level of anxiety, also known as an anxiety disorder, can be disabling.

Anxiety disorders are common.

In fact, the prevalence of anxiety disorders in Canada is about one in every 10 Canadians.

Anxiety can affect people of all ages, and in about half of the cases, it’s also accompanied by depression.

Pharmaceutical options can help with symptoms of anxiety, but naturopathic options are available as well.

If you’ve been experiencing symptoms of anxiety or if you have been diagnosed with anxiety, there are Mississauga anxiety solutions available at the Mindful Healing Clinic.

We previously discussed 5 natural healing solutions for anxiety, but are there additional options available?

Keep reading to find out.

Health Complications From Anxiety

Living with chronic anxiety causes a decline in your health, including your nervous, cardiovascular, digestive, immune, and respiratory systems.

Long-term stress and chronic anxiety can also negatively impact your overall quality of life.

It can make it difficult for you to focus at work or school, and limit your ability to complete everyday tasks.

During the “flight or fight” (cortisol) response of anxiety, your breathing and heart rate increase, and your system is flooded with chemicals that ensure your brain gets more oxygen.

When you experience occasional anxiety, your body returns to its regular function once your anxiety dissipates.

However, when repeated anxiety occurs, your body may no longer receive the signals it needs to return to normal functioning.

Your brain may release stress hormones regularly, causing frequent headaches, dizziness, and depression.

Ongoing stress and anxiety can also lead to chronic inflammation and a weakened immune system, which increases your vulnerability to viral infections.

Long-term exposure to the stress hormone cortisol can also contribute to weight gain

Excessive worry and tension are the primary characteristics of anxiety.

Other symptoms can include:

• Chest tightness
• Heart palpitations
• Sweating
• Muscle tension
• Agoraphobia
• Insomnia
• Panic attacks
• digestive problems
• Leaky gut syndrome
• Nightmares, if you have PTSD

Additionally, a rapid heart rate and other cardiovascular symptoms that can occur can increase your risk of heart disease or hypertension.

If you have asthma, frequent anxiety may also make your asthma symptoms worse.

Natural Solutions For Anxiety

Although chronic anxiety can be crippling, there are more natural solutions available that may provide relief from your anxiety symptoms.

Let’s take a closer look at some natural treatment solutions for anxiety that you can implement.

6. Practice Meditation

Mindfulness is a skill that you can develop through meditation.

It allows you to focus and live in the present moment.

Since anxiety is typically the result of worrying about the future, it’s thought that by keeping your mind in the present moment, you can reduce your worry and anxiety symptoms.

A recent randomized selection trial found that practicing mindfulness-based stress reduction may have a beneficial effect on anxiety symptoms in patients with generalized anxiety disorder.

It can also reduce your cortisol levels and improve sleep quality.

If you’re interested in trying meditation, guided meditation through YouTube or podcasts is a good place to start.

7. Take B-Complex Supplements

Eating food rich in B vitamins or supplementing with B vitamins can help improve anxiety symptoms.

It will affect your energy levels, sleep, and mood, as well as combat stress.

Vitamin B6 is especially helpful in keeping blood sugar levels balanced and maintaining a healthy nervous system.

In addition to anxiety, a deficiency in vitamin B6 can also cause depression, mood swings, a weakened immune system, confusion, and fatigue.

RELATED: Naturopathic Solutions for Chronic Fatigue

Vitamin B6 is available through food sources like bananas, fish, poultry, chickpeas, and potatoes, and as a supplement.

Vitamin B12 is also important towards combating chronic stress, depression, and mood disorders.

You can obtain vitamin B12 naturally through fish, meat, eggs, and milk products.

You can also take vitamin B12 supplements, which can help improve your concentration and energy levels.

8. Take Magnesium Supplements

In addition to playing many important roles in the body, supplementing with magnesium has many health benefits as well.

Magnesium is one of the leading deficiencies in adults.

Low magnesium has been linked to increased anxiety and may affect the glands that control your stress levels.

Taking magnesium has a calming effect on the nervous system and can relax your muscles.

It regulates hormones that calm the brain and promote relaxation.

In addition to combating anxiety, magnesium can also aid in digestion, muscle aches, spasms, and sleeping difficulties.

Too much magnesium can cause diarrhea, so consult with a naturopathic doctor before beginning supplementation.

You can get magnesium as a supplement, or through food sources like bananas, oatmeal, avocados, spinach, soy milk, beets, nuts, and whole wheat bread.

9. Include Ashwagandha In Your Diet

Ashwagandha, also known as Withania somnifera, can help with anxiety by stabilizing the body’s reaction to stress.

In two of three recent studies, ashwagandha demonstrated significant benefits over a placebo treatment when measured on anxiety or stress scales.

In addition to being a stress reliever, ashwagandha protects the brain from degeneration.

It can help to improve focus, reduce fatigue, and fight anxiety.

10. Take A GABA Supplement

GABA, or gamma aminobutyric acid, is an amino acid that plays a role in decreasing anxiety in the nervous system.

It does so by regulating nerve cells through a sedative effect and lessens their ability to create, receive, or send chemical signals.

GABA is thought to play a role in reducing anxiety and having a calming effect on the body by controlling nerve cell hyperactivity associated with anxiety, stress, and fear.

In addition to anxiety, GABA is prescribed for a myriad of conditions, including insomnia and ADHD, and for pain relief.

Taking valerian root is another option.

Valerian root raises the brain’s levels of GABA to calm anxiety.

Book Your Appointment With The Mindful Healing Clinic Today

A wide variety of naturopathic treatments are available for anxiety, depending on the specifications of your individual disorder.

If you’ve been diagnosed with anxiety, or suspect that you may have anxiety, contact me, Dr. Maria Cavallazzi, at the Mindful Healing Clinic.

During your initial appointment, we’ll sit down together and talk about your anxiety and any other health concerns you may have.

From there, we’ll create a treatment plan based on your unique health needs.

Book your appointment with The Mindful Healing Clinic today.