Are you looking for natural remedies to help with anxiety? Look no further! This article explores commonly used natural remedies for anxiety, including those prescribed by a naturopathic doctor (ND), and when they might be most effective. I'll also discuss the importance of understanding lifestyle factors that contribute to anxiety and how adjusting these factors can help you feel less anxious.
Understanding Anxiety
Before prescribing a remedy for anxiety, most naturopathic doctors will first seek to understand how your anxiety affects you and how long you’ve been experiencing it. Anxiety can manifest differently for everyone. Some effects are noticeable, while others might not be as apparent. Anxiety may range from mild discomfort to severe, debilitating symptoms.
Severe anxiety can prevent you from leaving home, going to work, or engaging in social settings, effectively paralyzing you. In contrast, mild to moderate anxiety may create discomfort without significantly interfering with your daily life.
Anxiety doesn’t just affect your mind—it can influence your body, too. For some, it manifests as heart palpitations (an awareness of your heart beating). For others, it may cause gastrointestinal symptoms like gas or diarrhea. The severity and specific body responses vary from person to person. How does your anxiety affect you?
Types of Anxiety
If anxiety has been interfering with your daily life for more than six months, you may have generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). If it has been persistent but isn’t interfering with daily functioning, it might be classified as mild to moderate anxiety. Anxiety related to specific situations or triggers, such as social settings or heights, may fall under phobia-related disorders like social anxiety disorder or acrophobia.
Answering questions such as, "Is my anxiety linked to specific circumstances?" or "Does it interfere with my daily life?" is essential before determining whether natural remedies or more aggressive options like pharmaceuticals are better suited for your situation. In cases of anxiety disorders, consulting a psychotherapist and a primary care provider in addition to your naturopathic doctor can be beneficial.
Lifestyle Matters
In my experience, addressing lifestyle factors is more impactful than solely focusing on remedies. If your anxiety stems from behaviors, relationships, or your living situation, modifying these aspects can bring significant relief. However, lifestyle changes aren’t always immediately possible. For example, if you’re in a rigorous training program or are under a high-stress period of your career, there may be little that you can change until the stressors back off a bit. In these circumstances, natural remedies can be an extremely valuable ally in managing anxiety.
As a naturopathic doctor, I always start by asking about your lifestyle. Understanding your habits, environment, and personality allows us to identify stressors and create small but effective changes. This approach addresses the true cause of your symptoms, which often lies in your psychology and lifestyle.
Why Your Nervous System Feels Overwhelmed
Anxiety is often a result of an overactive stress response. Your nervous system may perceive danger even when none exists, leading to symptoms like a racing heart, gastrointestinal distress, or excessive sweating. These responses stem from your perception of life events and how you react to them. Many people mistakenly believe their anxiety is caused by a physical issue when, in most cases, a lifestyle circumstance is the root cause.
By adjusting your lifestyle and gaining healthier perspectives through counseling, dream interpretation, and homeopathic medicines—a unique approach that I use—we can address these stressors effectively. To support this process, I often prescribe natural remedies to regulate your nervous system in a more direct way.
Effective Natural Remedies for Anxiety
Here are some key ingredients I frequently recommend for managing anxiety:
Lavender: This familiar herb contains compounds shown to calm the nervous system.
GABA: A chemical messenger your body naturally produces to help you relax. Supplementing with GABA can provide immediate relief for some individuals.
Phosphatidylserine: A brain-supporting molecule that regulates cortisol (the stress hormone) and helps improve resilience to stress.
Eleuthero (Siberian Ginseng): A milder ginseng root traditionally used to support those experiencing chronic stress.
Ashwagandha: A well-known adaptogen that helps regulate the stress response and balance cortisol levels.
Homeopathy: these medicines can be used to help change how you perceive and respond to stress in your life. For that reason, they can be one of your greatest ally’s in moving past your anxiety.
These remedies can complement lifestyle changes to provide holistic support for anxiety relief. For a more individualized approach, I also offer advanced testing, such as ZYTO scans or neurotransmitter testing, to better understand your unique needs.
Need help?
If anxiety is interfering with your quality of life, addressing its root causes and making meaningful lifestyle adjustments can lead to lasting relief. Natural remedies like lavender, GABA, and ashwagandha can help calm your nervous system and support your overall well-being.
Take the first step by evaluating your habits and stressors. Consulting a naturopathic doctor can provide a personalized approach to managing your anxiety and restoring balance. Reach out today to explore how natural remedies and tailored lifestyle strategies can help you feel more at ease and in control! www.drpistoia.com/contact
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