Is there any over the counter or natural remedies for anxiety?

Question

I tend to get anxious when i am by myself, around my mestural cycle, bright lights. Faster heart rate, hot flushes, shaking. I know avoiding situations makes it worse, is there anything to help me along the way?

Answer 1

Hey, I am predisposed to anxiety; it's just my very nature. I'm a natural worrier and, let me tell you, I am great at it! My anxiety used to manifest into physical symptoms (stomach aches, diarreah, headaches, extreme fatigue, etc). I would make it a point to avoid social situations as they would provoke panic attacks.

When I turned 23, I had had enough! Living with a constant sense of impending doom is no way to live. I decided to incorporate buddhist beliefs and meditation into my life. Now, before I continue, let me assure you that you do not have to take a dive into a new religion in order to conquer your anxiety; it's the teachings of religion (whether it be Christianity, Buddhism, etc), not the rituals, that are important.

The first part to meditation is learning how to breathe properly. Most people take breathing for granted, however, I'd make a bet that if you suddenly became aware of your breath, you'd probably notice that it's shallow, almost like your lungs are constricted. Learning how to breathe properly is difficult and requires a lot of training and patience.

I'd suggest trying to incorporate yoga into your life. My favorite yoga dvds are the "Total Yoga:The flow series." Each dvd (Earth, Fire, Water) begins with a 5-minute demonstration on techniques to improve your breathing. These dvds are long (about an hour each), so utilize them as you feel fitting. Perhaps do 20 minutes a day. Eventually you'll learn the moves and the techniques to breathe properly and you will not need to rely on them as much. (I'd start off with the Earth series as it's targeted to beginners).

Once you learn to breath deeply, it will become your first line of defense to overcoming your panic attacks. If something begins to stress me out, I focus on my breath--the sound of it, the feel of it, etc. Suddenly, the issue that provoked the anxiety attack will leave the forefront of my mind. Many people are opposed to meditation, claiming that they either don't have the time to do it, or that they cannot properly include it into their lifestyle. I was once THAT person. Disciplining and training the mind is quite a feat, but the rewards to doing so are endless.

Buy some scented candles, turn off the lights in your room, and put on some meditation music (I am particularly fond of "World Meditation-Six Daily Meditations from Around the World"). Do this daily before bed or right when you wake up. It'll allow you to become in-tune with your body and mind. As a side note, whenever I feel stressed out at work or whenever I feel a migraine coming on, I'll put on my headphones and listen to this meditation music and miraculously my tension dissipates and my pain goes away.

As a disclaimer, if your anxiety is negatively affecting your life on an ongoing basis, you may have some underlying condition that requires professional help. Do not feel ashamed or embarassed to speak to someone about it. However, many people (myself included) experience anxiety and there are things you can do to conquer it on your own. I've attached some links for your perusal. If you've never seen the movie "What About Bob," please see the youtube link attached below. I think the psychiatrist says it all when he states, "what's the crisis?" Good luck and may you find peace and happiness.

Answer 2

Learning to control your anxiety will produce a much better solution than taking meds. Personally dealing with it in small progressive steps has allowed me to feel free, cure instead of treat! As a young child i often suffered from anxiety which resulted in sleepless nights and frustrating stressful days. I personally found that the best cure for me was meditation before bed. If I can clear my head before i go to sleep i can actually relax, sleep, and wake up feeling healthy and calm in the morning. For evenings when i just cannot seem to relax i have found that a stick of incense works really well. When purchasing incense make sure to get the ones in packages [the stuff which is exposed to the air looses it's aromatic nature and smells terrible]. Many incense companies will label their product with the effect it usually has on the body, the ones labeled meditation are good. imo, a productive nights sleep will set you up for the entire day. If you find yourself getting anxious take three seconds of personal time to get things back together. another thing which has worked well for me is concrete planned me time. when i am going through a rough period i always reserve the last hour of my day for me. No television, no family, no answering the phone, no studying [except during finals!!!], no friends,no music, just me and a clear mind. Sometimes i journal [free writing always work better than medication!!!] sometimes i read a relaxing and interactive book, while other times i draw, or spend valuable time playing with my cat. learning to control anxiety really helps the entire self.

Answer 3

I am so happy, it was only a 35 minute drive ( 70 minutes total) but absolutely no sign of anxiety or panic i shopped till I dropped - brilliant! I will now go for the next stage DUAL CARRIAGE way, probably at the weekend, with my husband accompanying me first then the solo drive, if successful the final stage of driving on motorway

Beat Anxiety And Panic Attacks Naturally?

Answer 4

Try using Ylang Ylang in an oil burner & go to the health food shop or chemist for some natural remedy tablets. I had anxiety but i had prescribed medication. Ylang Ylang relaxes you.

Answer 5

Among other stress lowering things, I have found prayer to God to be very effective, feeling I am not facing situations alone.

Another simple stress reliever, is meditation - "to ponder, to concentrate" on a short writing or Psalm from the Bible. Even just a few sentences strengthens me.

Answer 6

I heard St. John's Wort is alright, works for a few people. You can buy it in Rite Aid or almost anywhere. Listening to music on headphones helps me with mine.

Answer 7

yeah St. Johns wort

Answer 8

I use to take KAVA KAVA, and herb and it worked wonders, you almost can't find it any more. If you can it is relaxing.