Anxious? Here's Relief That's Good for You

Great-grandmother didn't take "mother's little helpers" like BuSpar, Ativan, Valium, and Xanax for her difficult times. Maybe she would have if they'd been available, but there are lots of advantages to getting at the cause of anxiety instead of just treating the symptoms.

Below are excerpts from an article on the subject. I especially recommend physical activity and EFT. For the full article, click: http://www.womentowomen.com/depressionanxietyandmood/anxiety.aspx.

Physical activity is the single best anxiety medication I know. It’s just essential to hormonal balance. In one study, people who engaged in 30–60 minutes of moderate exercise every day reported less anxiety than a similar group on anti-anxiety meds who did not exercise.

Get enough sunlight and fresh air. Fifteen minutes of sun exposure (without sunscreen) in the early morning and late afternoon stimulates the production of vitamin D in your body.

Get enough sleep. Adequate sleep is paramount to brain health. Women should get 7–9 hours a night. If you have trouble sleeping, avoid all caffeine (including chocolate and green tea) and set a bedtime for yourself that you stick to. Practice a calming technique like meditation or deep breathing before bed.

If you can afford it, find a counselor to talk to about your emotional experience. Ask for a referral from a doctor, family member or friend. The local Y, religious institution, or grief counseling center may have a list of therapists they can offer. Interview several to make sure you find someone you really like and trust.

Try using the Emotional Freedom Techniques, widely known as EFT.... I like it because unlike conventional relaxation methods, EFT gets at the root causes of anxiety rather than masking them.

Investigate integrative manual therapy (IMT). Using gentle applied pressure, IMT opens up blocked energy channels to help the body do what it does best — heal itself. Anxiety is in a sense blocked energy, and bodywork helps redirect that energy constructively.

If you are paralyzed by catastrophic thoughts and debilitating physical symptoms of anxiety, talk to your healthcare professional about the usefulness of short-term medication. If your doctor does not offer additional support techniques to help you in the long term, look around for an alternative or integrative medical practitioner. Long-term use of anti-anxiety medication will not cure you.