Control Anxiety and Panic Attacks Naturally

Anxiety and panic attacks are serial killers. You may think you have them “under control,” but when you’re not looking, they will destroy you. Medications for these disorders may worsen your health in the long run. All drugs have side effects, such as liver damage, and many are addicting.

There are many different ways to overcome anxiety and panic attacks. Meditation, deep breathing, visualization, exercise, yoga, self-hypnosis, and tapping into substances that occur naturally in foods.

Let’s explore the last option as we try to control anxiety and panic attacks naturally.

• Immediately reduce your intake of saturated fats and omega-6 fats. These are contained in vegetable oils, such as corn, safflower, peanut, sunflower, soybean, and canola oils. Use olive oil whenever possible. Increase your intake of omega-3 fats, such as those found in salmon, herring, and sardines. Research shows that animals on high-fat diets take longer to recover from stress than those on low-fat diets. In addition to keeping your brain and heart healthy, omega-3′s will help you fight depression.

• Magnesium reduces the immune over-reactivity seen with anxiety disorders. This element contains a natural calming agent that, when taken at bedtime, aids sleep. Magnesium also reduces your risk of stroke, heart disease, and Type-2 diabetes.

• There is a flavonoid (epigallocatechin gallate) in that calms the brain and reduces anxiety. It works by activating the brain’s most protective system against anxiety. White tea aids in sleep, and contains a higher level of this flavonoid (and much less fluoride) than is found in green tea.

• The flavonoids found in vegetables, fruits, and certain spices, have also been shown to reduce anxiety. In particular, eat foods that contain hesperidin (citrus fruits), quercetin (cranberries, red onions), and curcumin (turmeric). Although these flavonoids are available as supplements, it’s always better to get them from natural sources. Try to have at least five servings of fruits and vegetables each day.

• The sedative herb, valerian, may be used to calm down anxiety during the day. Please be mindful of the fact that even though this is a natural herb, it should not be taken in conjunction with prescription sedatives or tranquilizers.

• Try to avoid excitotoxins, also known as additives, in your foods. They are toxic to your body and worsen your brain excitation levels. These toxins include: MSG, aspartame, hydrolyzed proteins, and sodium caseinate, and are found in processed meats, ice cream, potato chips, and most “junk” foods.

• This is a tough one. But, if you suffer from anxiety and panic attacks, you really need to cut back on, or eliminate completely, caffeine. People with anxiety disorders over-react to stimulants and tend to suffer from insomnia. Try a soothing cup of valerian tea before bedtime instead of cocoa.

Where to go from here:

• “Anxiety and Panic Attacks Guide”