Imagine waking every morning with a feeling of dread. Think how it would feel to find your heart racing and your body sweating for no obvious reason. What would it mean to experience fear so intense it feels life-threatening?
These sensations, along with other symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue, irrational thoughts, body shakes, diarrhea, nausea, headaches, and lightheadedness can all be signs of anxiety.
Although a person with anxiety may feel scared and isolated, it is a very common concern. Health Canada estimates 10% of Canadians suffer from some form of anxiety, although mild cases may go undiagnosed and the statistics are likely an underestimate. Anxiety does not discriminate and can affect a person of any age, gender, religious belief, sexual orientation, or race.
Stress and worry are both natural and necessary - some degree of temporary anxiety is a healthy thing to experience during periods of high stress. Those feelings of worry and concern, when experienced in the short term, can motivate us to look for solutions to solve our problems. Constant worry and long term stress are not normal. They can wreak havoc on our physical, emotional, and spiritual wellness and can manifest in symptoms of anxiety. Anxiety is worry taken to the extreme.
Consistent high stress levels in combination with the lack of effective coping strategies is a major trigger for anxiety. Other triggers, which need to be ruled out or addressed, that can increase anxiety include low/irregular blood sugar levels, lack of sleep, hormonal imbalances (PMS, menopause/andropause), thyroid disease, toxic burden, and nutritional deficiencies.
Individual Approach
Anxiety manifests in different people for different reasons and can be experienced in different ways. Some people have strong physical symptoms (chest pain, shortness of breath), others experience anxiety on a mental level (persistent negative thoughts, catastrophic thinking), while others have behavioral signs (avoiding social situations, fastidious tendencies). Often anxiety presents as a combination of all of the above.
It is important for people who suffer from anxiety to speak to a doctor about their symptoms as well as any known triggers (although, as is often the case with anxiety, the specific triggers are unknown).
Naturopathic doctors aim to treat each person as an individual, based on their own unique experiences and symptoms. In order to accurately identify what may be at the root of your condition, your doctor may request any or all of the following tests:
Neurotransmitter testing, Stress Hormones (including cortisol), Saliva Hormones, Thyroid workup, Nutritional testing (Iron, B12, Magnesium, hair elements, food allergies, blood sugar levels), Blood gases, heavy metals
Naturopathic Solutions
Healthy Basics:
Diet and a healthy gastrointestinal tract are essential in an anxiety management plan. Consider a diet that focuses on clean water and high quality plant foods. Begin your day with a balanced breakfast and aim for 1-2 small snacks between meals to control blood sugar fluctuations. Highs and lows in blood sugar balance can have a major impact on anxiety levels.
Food as Medicine:
Various nutrients have been shown to have a positive effect on anxiety. B6, magnesium, GABA, Inositol, and Theanine are a few. Herbs such as chamomile, ginger, and lavender are calming and also beneficial. Depending on the effect you need or want, you may choose to supplement. Speak to your naturopathic doctor about ways to optimize your vitamin plan and address your imbalances.
Stress Reduction:
There are amazing therapy options when it comes to reducing the impact of stress on the body. Whether it's group meditation, deep breathing exercises before bed, homeopathy, acupuncture, massage therapy, private yoga sessions, or Reiki - find a strategy that works for you and use it often. Your naturopathic doctor can guide and assist you in finding effective coping strategies for your stress.
Summary
By addressing physical, emotional, and energetic imbalances, your personalized health management program will give you the tools for a positive, life-changing approach to anxiety.
