Anxiety is the type of disorder that in some ways is “too manageable.” Depending on the degree of anxiety you experience, many people find that while their anxiety drastically lowers their quality of life, they’re able to cope with it just enough that they can still go to work and go home without any significant issues. Their life is less happy, but they aren’t bed-ridden.
Because it’s mildly manageable, many people avoid anxiety treatments. This is often because prescription anxiety treatments have been linked to a host of side effects, while therapy can be prohibitively expensive and time consuming for those with busy lifestyles. Yet this is a problem, because anxiety itself is essentially leading people to live lives that are not as fulfilling as they could be.
Luckily, there are several natural solutions for dealing with anxiety that you can try as a way to control your anxiety and improve your quality of life.
Natural Methods to Treat Anxiety
- Valerian Root
Valerian root is an extract used mostly to promote sleep, yet the way it promotes sleep benefits anxiety as well. The key is the sedation affect provided by valerian. It essentially relaxes the body and the mind, so your stress feels less pronounced and your anxiety symptoms decrease. It also improves sleep, which also increases stress coping. Valerian is best used at night.
- Kava
Kava extract is one of the most powerful known substances for controlling anxiety. It has a well-researched effect on GABA levels and calms the mind and body as powerfully as some medications, all without dependency risk. Kava shouldn’t be taken with alcohol or with those that take other medications or liver issues, however, as the kava herb is fairly strong and can interact with other medications.
- Jogging
Not all natural treatments are herbal related, and jogging is perhaps one of the most powerful ways to combat anxiety. Some studies have shown that jogging may be as powerful or more powerful as some of the world’s leading anti-anxiety medications. Regular jogging is not just for physical health – the effects on neurotransmitters, hormones, and muscles all show that jogging is beneficial for physical health as well.
- Magnesium
Magnesium won’t help everyone’s anxiety, but it can be a big help for those that aren’t getting enough magnesium in their diets, as several studies have linked magnesium deficiency to anxiety and depression issues. It’s unclear exactly why a lack of magnesium appears to lead to anxiety, but magnesium plays a role in nearly 400 different processes in your body and offsets some of the more harmful effects of calcium, so those are likely to be contributing factors.
- Passionflower
Passionflower is a weaker version of kava, but better for those that don’t want to deal with quite as much sedation. Passionflower’s extract appears to control emotions using flavones, which are also believed to reduce sadness and depression symptoms in a similar way as MAO-Is.
Using Natural Remedies for Anxiety and Stress
Anxiety doesn’t have to be something that you struggle with forever, nor does it have to be something you cure using prescription medication. There are countless natural ways to fight anxiety that will allow you to learn to successfully cope with your anxiety symptoms without the side effects of prescription medication. The above list represents the most common ways to control anxiety, and with the right lifestyle changes, your anxiety can be completely under control.
Incredible post.
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