Over 18% of US adults experience a clinical anxiety disorder every year, making it the most common mental illness, yet the majority of individuals don’t receive treatment. Meanwhile, many who do receive pharmaceutical treatment for their anxiety find themselves coping with a new concern: the potentially addictive nature of benzodiazepines, a class of medications commonly prescribed for anxiety disorders. Presented with a medication that can be as dangerous as opioids, it’s no surprise many people don’t pursue treatment. Luckily, there’s another way.
Whether as an alternative to pharmaceutical treatment or as a supplement to it, a growing number of people are opting to manage their anxiety using supplements, lifestyle changes, and other therapies. These treatments are helping people achieve balance and peace of mind despite stress and anxiety.
Let In The Light
One common symptom of stress and anxiety is muscle tension and sometimes massage isn’t enough to get out those painful knots, which can cause headaches and other complaints. What some massage therapists have discovered, however, is that LED light therapy can effectively reduce muscle tension and relieve anxiety. The treatment offers a natural intersection between pain relief and anxiety management.
Addressing The Day-To-Day
Part of what makes anxiety disorders so challenging to treat is that many of the root causes of anxiety are found in people’s day-to-day lives and that means that, in order to reduce anxiety, people need to make significant changes – and it’s hard to do that alone. For those struggling with anxiety, then, it can help to visit a naturopathic doctor (ND). NDs focus on holistic treatment approaches, including evaluating lifestyle factors like lack of sleep and poor diet, that may be contributing to anxiety. NDs can also recommend appropriate supplements and other interventions to reduce stress and anxiety.
Create For Calm
Adult coloring books may be all the rage, but they’re more than just a kitschy trend. Rather, adult coloring books are an offshoot of art therapy, which can be especially helpful for individuals with anxiety. That’s because art therapy for anxiety emphasizes allowing patients to focus on a separate activity, like coloring, so that they can relax and process their emotions. Even done independently, though, many people with anxiety can benefit from coloring mandalas or keeping a creative gratitude journal.
Supplements And Nutraceuticals
Finally, people have long used herbs, supplements, and other natural solutions to manage anxiety, including chamomile tea, valerian root supplements, and lavender aromatherapy – and these are just a few of the options available today. In fact, there’s a growing market of food-supplement blends known as nutraceuticals, food and drink products that claim to offer medicinal benefits. Those interested in exploring this option can buy Good Day Chocolates, which are infused with L-Theanine and chamomile flower, or add Spirit Dust, containing goji berries, reishi mushroom extract, and ashwagandha to smoothies or coffee in pursuit of calm.
There’s no one right way to treat anxiety, and for most people, it’s a matter of managing it rather than eliminating it. That is, after all, the reality of living in a high pressure, constantly on the go world – stress is a constant and clinical anxiety is likely to become increasingly common.
Finding solutions that work on an individual basis, then, is vital to navigating this changing world with one’s mental health intact.