What is Anxiety Disorder? Medication Vs Alternative Treatment For Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety disorder symptoms may make you feel anxious most of the time, without any apparent reason. The anxious feelings may be so uncomfortable that to avoid them you may stop some everyday activities. You may even experience bouts of feelings of anxiety so intense they terrify and immobilize you. Most anxiety disorders have some biological component and often respond well to medication for anxiety.
While anti-anxiety medications may relieve anxiety disorder symptoms, their tranquilization blunts fine details of personality, including initiative, emotional reactivity, enthusiasm, sexiness, alertness and insight. These drugs temporarily disable or permanently destroy good aspects of a person personality as much as bad. Terminating medication for anxiety requires as much care as initiating it. Drugs used in the treatment for anxiety disorders should be phased out gradually under direct supervision of a physician.
If you or a loved one is having a difficult time dealing with anxiety attacks, feelings of anxiety or are seeking alternative treatment for anxiety disorders, the following natural supplements may be of help:
- Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is an amino acid that is known to play a role in the physiology of anxiety. Prescription drugs for anxiety such as Valium and Xanax work by affecting GABA receptors in the brain. So why not use the natural substance of GABA, without all those unwanted side-effects of medication for anxiety?
- Kava (Piper methysticum) is an herb that is widely used for feelings of anxiety, tension, agitation and insomnia. Native to Polynesia, Kava works in a similar way to benzodiazepine drugs such as Xanax and Valium, with great effectiveness.
- Oat Straw (Avena sativa) is an excellent remedy for strengthening the entire nervous system. Oats have sedative and mild hypnotic properties and contain an indole alkaloid called gramine.
- Scullcap, as a single herb, is perhaps the most widely relevant, natural, nervine available to us. It relaxes states of nervous tension while at the same time renews and revives the central nervous system.
- Passion flower is used to induce relaxation and sleep. It is a preferred herb in the treatment for anxiety disorders because it leaves no feeling. Its pharmacological effects are attributed to a number of alkaloids.
- Catnip is generally recognized for its ability to elicit euphoria in cats. Catnip tea is commonly used by humans in dealing with anxiety attacks. The leaves contain a volatile oil called nepetalactone, offering sedative properties.
- Chromium deficiency can produce nervousness, shakiness and other generalized symptoms of anxiety.
- Selenium has been shown to elevate mood and decrease anxiety. This was particularly noticeable in patients who had lower levels of selenium in their diets to begin with.
- Too low of cholesterol levels can be linked to both depression, decreased libido and anxiety.
- Minerals such as calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium are depleted during times of stress. Foods that supply these valuable minerals are apricots, avocados, bananas, broccoli, blackstrap molasses, brewer yeast, brown rice, dried fruits, dulse, figs, fish, garlic, green leafy vegetables, legumes, raw nuts and seeds, soy products, whole grains and yogurt.
- Avoid all foods and beverages that contain caffeine and foods containing refined sugar or other simple carbohydrates as they lead to blood sugar problems, especially hypoglycemia. Encourage small, frequent meals rather than the traditional three meals per day.
- Last and by no means least, I have seen excellent results across the board with the combination of flower essences containing Star of Bethlehem, Rock Rose, Impatiens, Cherry Plum and Clematis in anxiety disorder symptoms and dealing with anxiety attacks.
Fortunately, the vast majority of people with feelings of anxiety or anxiety disorder symptoms can be helped. Success rates vary with each individual and treatment periods vary. Patients with anxiety disorders often have more than one disorder, which can complicate the treatment for anxiety disorders. Substance abuse and clinical depression often co-exist in patients with anxiety disorder. You no longer have to suffer with this debilitating condition. You just need to find the right combination of alternative treatment for anxiety disorders depending on your individual needs.