"Coping With Anxiety The Natural Way"

Anxiety can, and probably will, afflict most people at some stage in their life, but in some circumstances it’s a healthy response to what is happening around them. Personally my problems began through an unrelated illness, but this isn’t always the case for everyone.

It’s normal to feel anxious before a sport competition or an exam – this helps us to focus or prepare for the task at hand. It is also normal for a parent to worry about their teenage son or daughter who has not come home after midnight, but not normal if they become anxious each time the teenager leaves the house.

Anxiety treatments – both allopathic and homeopathic – are available from either doctors or herbalists, and some are also available from your local drugstore or whole foods shop.

Anxiety, like most things, only becomes a problem when it becomes excessive and overly obtrusive in our daily lives. This usually occurs when people cannot calm themselves down over a prolonged period of time, or react to a situation disproportionately to the threat.  Unfortunately, in the current climate, our lives are filled with many genuine anxieties. The fear of crime, unemployment and one’s health can be some of the sources that may call for potential cures. There has never been such a demand for cures in our modern world.

While looking around for natural treatments I was interested to discovered that the symptoms can be as many and varied as the remedies.

Anxiety manifests itself in many forms, ranging from muscle tension, digestive problems, migraines, asthma, sleeplessness and heart disease. While it doesn’t normally kill, it can be as predisposing a factor as many other serious illnesses. Finding cures has never been so important; however, many people are now choosing to take more natural remedies, such as essential oils and herbal teas, rather than receiving stronger prescription drugs from their doctors.

If you suffer from repeated anxiety attacks, and don’t want to visit a doctor, it is advisable to seek a qualified aromatherapist rather than undergo self-treatment. For milder forms of anxiety essential oils can be used in massages, face compresses, steam inhalation or baths. Some oils commonly used as cures include: Camomile, Sandalwood, Patchouli, Jasmine, Juniper, Ylang-Ylang, Geranium and Clary Sage.

Of course there are other natural remedies we can use as anxiety cures, such as herbal teas or infusions. Teas without caffeine are usually recommended and are a great benefit when used in tandem with essential oils. Chamomile, Lemon and Peppermint teas help to calm the mind after a difficult day at work or before a potentially stressful situation.

I have also found that the use of herbal remedies combined with moderate exercise can help the body cope with anxiety better. Some people use yoga, meditation or relaxation exercises that cost little or no money and reap numerous health benefits. More often than not the best cures come at little or no cost. 

Anxiety is a large part of our twentieth-first century lives, and it is a common product of the complex situations we face daily. We cannot completely rid ourselves of fear, and the treatments work differently for each person, but we can try different methods of relaxation when we feel anxiety start to take over.

There are a number of very good books out there that can help you find further ways to relieve your anxiety. One that I have been using for a few months, and therefore can highly recommend, is Conquer Stress, Depression and Anxiety. This has helped me out with some of the ‘silly’ things that used to cause me stress, I now no longer get anxious or stressed out about being in crowd situations for example – which makes the ‘little’ things such as shopping a whole lot easier.

So don’t worry, don’t panic, don’t get stressed – do get over to Conquer Stress, Depression and Anxiety – your life can be so much better, and it can start today.

Indigo Waters