The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Deep Breathing
Posted by Robert Henry (Ten Mile, Tn) on 02/27/2015
★★★★★
For anxiety, my input is to look at your breathing. I say this because I had the same issue as a young hard charger in industry. All the doctors said I was blacking out because of hyperventilation. They gave me Dilantin to prevent this. Years later, a doctor told me this was equivalent to killing a fly with a 105 Howitzer.
This treatment caused osteoporosis and lot of other problems I now have.
The anxiety eventually went away, but in my shady side of the mountain years, I am studying more and how you breathe is a biggie. 40 years ago I thought the doctors were full of stuff. Now I think they were right. I learned that chest breathing can cause this anxiety problem. You have to breathe with your diaphragm and let the exhale be as long as you can stand. You have to balance O2 and Carbon Dioxide. Both players are important.
I encourage you to read what Dr Shallenberger says about his patients and anxiety. He has a video on this subject. Goggle him.
Wish you well.=======ORH=========
Rhodiola
Posted by Timh (KY) on 09/20/2014 2042 posts
In cases of extreme free radical or oxidative stress I think it fair to say that it's more than hormonal problem. The very cell integrity is compromised all over the body. The need for antioxidant nutrition is critical, but one nutrient stands out in my mind as very effective in restoring cell integrity & energy production and that's Quercetin. Another nutrient that is gaining popularity for antioxidant & energy at the cell level is PQQ or Pyrroloquinone Quinone. Other nutrients for energy production are Ribose, DMG, Tyrosine, Inosine, CoQ10, Alpha Lipoic Acid, and NADH or Coenzyme 1.
For adrenal glands specific, supplement Pantothenic Acid, Ginseng Root, Raw Adrenal Substance. I personally take either a Raw Pituitary Glandular or a Multi-male Glandular daily. Of course one can take Raw Bovine Adrenal Glandular for restoration.
Alkaline pH
Posted by Diane (Id, US) on 07/15/2014
★★★★★
I had some serious anxiety, stomach problems and raised blood pressure going on last week…I didn't know what it was so went into the Dr. who said it was anxiety and gave me a Rx for Lexapro and Zantac… I knew there was an underlying cause and hit the computer for hrs….I found articles on pH balancing and after testing my pH w/ pH strips I saw that it was so Acidic! I began an alkaline diet… It took a few days, but as of right now I feel back to my old self and very little anxiety. Such a relief. It may not help everyone, but it's worth a try and if it does, it's a cheap fix! Good luck!
Borage Oil, Magnesium
Posted by Claire (Mountain View, Ca) on 01/08/2014
★★★★★
I have been seeking remedies to help with anxiety and insomnia and wanted to share what's been working. Thanks to a post from Mama to Many, I purchased borage oil, the strongest I could find at 1200 mg per capsule. It has 3 times as much GLA as evening primrose oil, which I had been taking without noticing many results (except less menstrual flow). I also bought magnesium powder after reading someone's success story on Earth Clinic about taking at night, just before going to sleep. Remarkably, within 2 days taking 3 borage capsules a day and 1 teaspoon of magnesium powder in water at night, I could feel my stress and anxiety diminish dramatically. I also started sleeping through the night. It is a remarkable combination! Plus my skin is baby soft. I hope others will give it a go! Thank you, MAMA TO MANY!!!
Rhodiola
Posted by Mike 62 (Denver, Colorado) on 11/19/2013
Mary: Regular food does not provide enough nutrition for the tissues. Cells send signals to the brain via stress hormones. Cooking denatures many nutrients like B-6. B-6 activates B-1 and B-2. Conventionally grown foods lack special substances like humic/fulvic acids and xeronines. Raw food has enzymes. Organic and grass fed foods have more trace minerals. The body requires 80% carbs, 5%fiber, both insoluable and soluable, 5% oils by weight, and 10% protein. The carbs are for fuel. Raw sugar, from whole cane, honey, and fruit is superior to cooked starches. Oils are for the cellular walls. The proper ratio of omega 3-6-9 is 2-3-5. Half of the oil is saturated. Expellar pressed coconut oil is best. Protein is for structure, enzymes, and neurotransmitters. Cooking destructures many proteins like acetyl carnitine. 1/3 of the proteins are glutamate. Glutamate gives strength to the tissues.
Rhodiola
Posted by Dave (Fountain Inn, Sc) on 11/19/2013
To Mary;
Re your panic attacks...
My absolute first go-to remedy for panic attack disorders is MAGNESIUM!!!
Google: "Dr. Sircus magnesium deficiency symptoms and diagnosis" for a myriad of ailments that mag deficiency causes. Among them is panic attacks.
In fact, virtually everyone is deficient in magnesium unless on a supplement of the same. Magnesium is the King of minerals and controls much of the electrical interplay on the cellular level. The lack of mag is often associated with cardio problems and is a predictor of diabetic problems.
There are dozens of health issues relative to magnesium deficiency.
Really, this is a big deal.
Do not underestimate the power of magnesium. And....that we do NOT get enough in the diet of most every American given the state of agriculture...soil depletion.
I have seen dozens of medical problems reversed almost instantly with adequate consumption of magnesium.
Mary, am I saying that mag intake will cure your panic attacks. No, but I'd sure eliminate the low hanging fruit as a possible cause: Mag deficiency.
Dave
Soaked Chia Seeds
Posted by Rm Az (Sedona, Az) on 09/14/2013
★★★★★
Anxiety- Cure- Soaked Chia Seeds
Preparation- Soak 2 table spoons chia seeds in any beverage for 10-15 minutes, can be longer. Drink 3 x morning, noon, and night. Produces awesome calm in all situations, no matter where you are or what you are doing, job interviews, social situations, work. Just start loving life. Might have something to do with an actually assimable plant based form of L-tryphtophan with all it's naturally occuring co-factors? You can try it in water, or unsweetened ice-tea, or natural lemonade with Apple Cider Vinegar and stevia and lemon juice and water. You'll need to put it in a shaker cup or a bottle with cap that you can vigorously shake from time to time while they are soaking. Enjoy
Valerian Root, 5-HTP
Posted by Mama To Many (Middle Tennessee Usa) on 09/03/2013
Hi Lauren,
Regarding your son taking 5 - HTP, I don't know what the recommendations are for children. For me however, I would feel more comfortable with that than prescription medications. If you try it, You could do a half a capsule (empty half out) and see how he does with that.
I think you are wise to avoid prescriptions for his ADHD. I am guessing you have probably already tried a lot of things... Just in case, I will mention that food dye makes one of my children very hyper. So, there could be some things you might want to avoid if you haven't already.
An Epsom Salt bath at bedtime might be good to relax him. (1 cup per 20 minute bath - my kids love it. ) I put a drop of lavender in the bath for my one that is high energy (even without the food dye! ) Sleepytime tea is also great at bedtime - even 1/2 cup. My children love it.
Hope you both start getting better rest soon!
~Mama to Many~
Chamomile Tea
Posted by Michelle (New York, NY) on 07/16/2013
★★★★★
Chamomile tea with honey before bed will help to ease anxiety, and help you sleep better. More sleep will also help to lessen anxiety even more. Good luck!
Valerian
Posted by Samantha (Abbotsford, Bc, Canada) on 02/02/2013
★★★★★
I've also had success with Valarian root for anxiety. I started having episodes of mania and rancing thoughts, with an inability to fall asleep. My brain just would not shut off and I thought I was going crazy; it was unsettling and felt like my nerves were totally shot. I bought another sleep aid (I was currently only taking melatonin) and it had valarian root combined with hops and lemon balm. It helped a lot and I could actually fall asleep again and stay sleeping throughout the night.
I then noticed during the day when it would wear off and saw how much it helped my general anxiety and took half doses as needed. It's incredibly calming and soothing and helps relax my muscles and all the tension in my brain. It's made a huge difference getting through an incredibly stressful time. I hope this helps someone else too!
Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)
Posted by Steve (Las Vegas, Nv Nevada) on 02/02/2013
★★★★★
I have used EFT to cure my anxiety, fears, sadnesses, and all types of pain too numerous to mention. It's such an easy technique to learn and use you can try it for almost any issue. If you don't get results there are plenty of other energy healing modalities that will be helpful. Here is a chart I use and with the tapping points and also a chart that explains what each point does energetically:
http://www.freewebs.com/stevelevine/efttappingpoints.htm
Probiotics
Posted by Alisha (Boston, Ma Usa) on 03/03/2012
★★★★★
I suffered with crippling anxiety for about 9 years (at first it was just feeling sick when I was out in a place I knew I couldn't just leave... Then it turned to agoraphobia). I was put on every anti anxiety med at one point or another throughout those years. I tried yoga, therapy, herbal remedies and a few self help programs. Finally, I went to see a naturopathic doctor for the first time. She realized that, while I didn't feel sick to my stomach all the time, my anxiety was caused by imbalances of the gut. Enter a broad spectrum enzyme at meals and probiotics (I started with 50 BILLION dose and now I take a maintenance dose of 16 Billion). That really helped my particular anxiety.
However, while I was waiting for my gut to heal and these two treasures to do their thing, she also had me taking 200 mg of L-theanine, a component found in green tea in smaller doses. This is the most reassuring little supplement! It takes about 15 minutes to kick in and you just feel more in control. It worked better than any anxiety med I was taking and it has no side effects. I highly recommend it - it's worked for the rest of my family and a few friends. Look it up on the web - there's lots of good third party sites about the effects.
Calm Down
Posted by Cindy (Orange County, Ca) on 07/26/2012
★★★★★
When I first saw "calm down" above I scoffed -- because that's the hardest thing to do when you're really anxious!! After reading the post, though, I must admit it helps. I am prone to impatience and skyrocketing anxiety if I don't work on keeping it under control. I have trained myself to never respond immediately to really frustrating or anxiety-provoking situations or people. I walk away, take a break, let voicemail screen calls and put replies in email only after I have calmed down. This helps me immensely so that my responses are driven by rational thinking, rather than frantic, anxious thinking, and it goes a long way in preserving my good relationships with others :)
Lydia Pinkham Tablets
Posted by Dianec (Los Angeles, California) on 10/19/2011
★★★★★
What has helped me in the past for "nerves" is an old-fashioned help aid for woman known as Lydia Pinkham Tablets!
It didn't help me until 2 weeks of taking it so don't give up and continue to take the tablets everyday as directed. It got to the point of even if I tried to be nervous I couldn't get nervous for nothing!
Order them at your drug store or buy them on-line. (I am not affiliated with this product). I've only used the product. Brought to my attention by a friend of the family.
Deep Breathing
Posted by Joeyther (Memramcook, Nb, Canada) on 03/06/2011
★★★★★
In researching the causes of anxiety attacks, I believe it beneficial to note that 'breathing' is essential to physical well being. Shallow breathing which leads to insufficient oxygen appears a catalyst to these attacks.
What does that mean? When an anxiety attacks appears, get up and move, fast if you can, run, walk, whatever, just remember to get those lungs filled with air and gently exhale through your mouth. Repeat slowly and deeply enough to accomplish a replenishment of oxygen without hyperventilating. Hold your intake of air for a few seconds and slowly exhale through your mouth, repeat at least 10 times.
Acetyl L-Carnitine
Posted by Timh (KY) on 07/27/2014 2042 posts
Zander: I think your testimony about the two mentioned nutrients makes a fine illustration of how the modern western life w/ all the stressors and toxins can deplete our nutritional & antioxidant status.
I would recommend broad spectrum nutritional supplementation w/ extra antioxidants. Also, many herbs w/ many benefits for your health. I have been using nutrition (supplements for many yrs and am still learning new stuff and have literally spared my life from severe environmental illness.
Apples, Water
Posted by Spike (Orlando, florida) on 05/11/2009
★★★★☆
I had years of horrible irrational anxiety while driving. I discovered that something in apples releived much of my anxiety----maybe it was just the distraction, but it worked. Later, I read that dehydration (thirst) is a contributing factor in anxiety. I started taking a bottle of water with me in the car and that works great. Im not cured, but, way better.
Try it, hope it helps.
B Complex
Posted by Laura (Honolulu, HI) on 03/19/2009
★★★★★
I am a chronicly (sp?) anxious person. B complex really helps with it. It gives you energy when you don't want to get out of bed and it makes you able to resolve the things you're so busy worrying about. I take it every day- I did here though, that it's kinda hard on your kidneys. I try to take a few days off a month to give my body a break. Hope this helps!
5-HTP
Posted by Dave (Fountain Inn, Sc) on 09/04/2013
Hello Chadi:
I didn't see if "Molly" had responded to you. You ask if Acetyl Carnitine is the same as L Carnitine. They are not. Carnitine is used for fat removal and to help those exercising to use fat for energy... the chemistry of the mitochrondria is involved.
Acetyl l Carnitine, is a derivative of Carnitine and is primarily used as brain protection, being able to penetrate the blood brain barrier.
5-HTP
Posted by Susanne (Indianapolis, In) on 11/30/2007
★★★★★
I began taking 5-HTP for depression and anxiety and sleeplessness during a very emotionally stressful breakup. I have Not had an anxity attack since 3-07 which I had suffered from off and on for several years. I sleep so much better. I am able to think clearer and stay focused and concentrate so much better as well as improved my memory. I am thankful for this. My dr. wanted to put me on Wellbutrine. NO Thank U!
Cold Showers
Posted by Mike (Elberta, Alabama) on 02/14/2007
★★★★★
I read about the cold shower and placed it somewhere in the back of my mind because I received news that I was going to have surgery and be out for 8 weeks (torn Achilles tendon which I have found no natural cure) I remembered the cold shower and started out with warm and raised the cold water and after I dried off the stress was gone and I felt great and looked at the surgery as an opportunity to catch up much needed paper work at home. Thanks for the cold shower
Cold Showers
Posted by Sharon (NYC) on 08/22/2006
★★★★★
I read about cold showers on your site a few months ago. Since then whenever an anxiety attack hits me, I jump into a cold shower and stay there for about 5 minutes until I warm up. I am amazed at how fast it works to diminish anxiety. It must correct brain chemistry.
