Natural Remedies for Anxiety

There’s a wide variety of natural remedies for anxiety you may select from, but the first step is to understand that the underlying cause of all anxiety disorders is a depletion, disruption or imbalance in neurotransmitters in the brain and dysfunction in the autonomic nervous system.

Typically, the individual with chronic anxiety has too much norepinephrine, also known as noradrenaline, which is an excitatory neurotransmitter needed for energy, focus, attention and awareness. Noradrenalin also triggers the sympathetic nervous system, also known as our fight or flight system or stress response system.

Although a certain degree of noradrenalin is essential for our survival, when there is too much, the individual experiences feelings of extreme anxiety or even panic attacks, hyper alertness, disrupted sleep, nervousness, agitation and inability to relax. We remain in fight or flight or high stress on an on-going basis.

Additionally, people with anxiety disorders frequently don’t have enough of one or more of the following: GABA, serotonin, dopamine or endorphins/enkephalins. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that functions as our natural anti-depressant, while GABA functions like a built-in tranquilizer, dopamine provides us with feelings of pleasure, and endorphins/enkephalins work as a potent natural pain reliever.

Each of these neurotransmitters are needed to keep norepinephrine and the stress response system in check. When they are deficient in numbers, then feelings of being overwhelmed, high anxiety, stress, nervousness, irritability, hyper alertness, and inability to relax ensue.

The objective of all natural remedies for anxiety is to reestablish homeostasis in the autonomic nervous system and neurotransmitters in the brain. When this is achieved, then symptoms like generalized anxiety disorder and panic attacks are resolved. Here’s a list of some of the primary issues you should address.

1. Change your Diet – Simple changes in diet is the single, most effective and important natural remedy for anxiety you should make. The foods you eat have a profound impact on your neurotransmitters and autonomic nervous system. It simply is not possible to overcome anxiety disorders without changing the diet.Eliminate sugar, caffeine, white flour, food additives and preservatives, artificial sweeteners and all other junk food. Each of these substances disrupts neurotransmitters and triggers the fight or flight system, thus inducing instant feelings of anxiety.The diet that soothes the sympathetic nervous system and balances neurotransmitters, and thus relieves anxiety, is high in animal protein and low starch vegetables and low in carbohydrates — even complex carbohydrates. I recommend the Paleolithic diet, as this is the diet that we are genetically designed to eat, which includes, unprocessed, organic grass-fed meat, fish, eggs, low-starch vegetables, nuts, seeds and low-sugar fruit like berries and nothing more.

Most people see immediate and significant improvement in their anxiety levels with these simple changes in diet.

Food sensitivities are a common underlying cause of anxiety disorders as well, so testing for hidden food sensitivities and eliminating them from the diet accordingly can produce some impressive improvements as well.

2. Reduce stress – When we are under stress, then norepinephrine is released which ignites the fight or flight system. If you are under chronic stress, then the sympathetic nervous system never shuts off. The neurotransmitters, dopamine, GABA, serotonin, and endorphins/enkephalins become drained with the constant demand. Take time to relax and nurture yourself, spend time with nature, use deep breathing exercises, mindfulness meditation, yoga, dance and exercise on a regular basis.

3. Correct Nutritional deficiencies – Nutritional deficiencies are abundant in the general population because of poor diet, chronic stress and environmental toxins. Neurotransmitters cannot be produced or function properly without adequate amounts of amino acids, vitamins, minerals and fatty acids.

Individuals with anxiety disorders are often deficient in tryptophan, tyrosine, phenylalanine, magnesium, fatty acids, zinc, B12, folic acid, methionine, B6, iron, manganese and many more.

Assessing your nutrient levels and replenishing any deficiencies that are present should be a primary component in your list of natural remedies for anxiety.

4. Reduce Environmental toxins – Common everyday chemicals found in your perfume, cologne, cosmetics and other personal care products, pesticides, herbicides, air fresheners, disinfectants, household cleaning products, food, air, and water cause disruption and depletion of those crucial neurotransmitters needed to prevent anxiety and they also thrust the body into fight or flight.

Avoid these toxins by adopting some basic green living principles into your lifestyle.

It’s equally important to assess whether your body is carrying around any excess toxins like heavy metals and pesticides and engage in detoxification.

5. Assess Possibility of Candida Overgrowth – Yeast overgrowth in the gastrointestinal tract is an epidemic in our society and it is one of the primary underlying causes of anxiety disorders and panic attacks, as the toxins that the organism emits disrupt neurotransmitters and turn on the sympathetic nervous system.

6. Exercise – Regular exercise that consists of short bursts of intensity followed by rest and recovery turns off the sympathetic nervous system and boost neurotransmitters, thus providing instant relief from anxiety.

7. Last, but not least, prescription medication used for anxiety disorders and depression, as well as alcohol, nicotine, marijuana, cocaine, heroine and other street drugs, caffeine, or any mind altering drug, must be avoided, as each of these disrupt and deplete neurotransmitters.

Other routine natural remedies for anxiety that may be utilized include biofeedback, acupuncture, replacing low cortisol, hormone balancing, psychotherapy, herbal remedies and homeopathic remedies. However, what we learn in this discussion is that the path to recovery may vary somewhat from person to person, depending on what unique underlying factors apply to their situation.