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Are you one of the 3 million Americans who suffer from anxiety or panic attacks? In this article, I will provide safe and effective solutions with natural medicine.
Many doctors overlook or misdiagnose panic disorder because they believe that the symptoms are psychosomatic. Fortunately, recent studies have shown that this disorder has a real, physiological basis.
Stress, either conscious or unconscious often triggers panic attacks. When you feel stressed, your body produces a burst of fight or flight hormones. This sudden burst of hormones can lead to problems with breathing, chest pain, dizziness, trembling, sweating, nausea or a feeling like you are losing your mind. Research has shown that taking adaptogenic herbs such as Ashwaghanda and Bacopa or Holy Basil helps to balance flight or flight hormones. Adaptogenic herbs have a balancing effect. If the levels of stress hormones are too high, an adaptogenic herb lowers it. Adaptogenic herbs will also elevate hormone levels if the levels are too low. Because excess stress hormones are metabolized during deep sleep, it is extremely vital to get adequate sleep.
Many experts believe that panic attacks are caused by a malfunction in brain chemistry. It is thought that the brain sends and receives false “emergency signals” that cause the release of excitatory brain chemicals called neurotransmitters. Excitatory neurotransmitters increase pulse rate and cause rapid breathing. The excitatory neurotransmitters include dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine.
Poor diet, caffeinated drinks such as coffee and soda, and neurotoxins such as aspartame, MSG, artificial coloring and artificial flavoring can cause imbalances in the excitatory brain chemicals. It is important to read labels, reduce or eliminate caffeine and eliminate aspartame, MSG, food additives and food coloring from your diet. These cause excitation in the nervous system and can worsen symptoms of panic and anxiety. Caffeine can deplete B vitamins and these cofactors are needed for proper production of neurotransmitters.
Low levels of two of the calming brain chemicals, serotonin and GABA, are found in patients suffering from panic and anxiety. Reduction of panic attacks and anxiety has been obtained in clinical studies by balancing serotonin with plant based 5-HTP and by balancing GABA with the amino acid l-theanine.
Research has shown that taking 1-2 grams of EPA/DHA fish oil and 200-400 milligrams of magnesium can help stabilize moods and reduce anxiety.
An imbalance in blood sugar can lead to symptoms of anxiety. Eating 3-5 small protein rich meals several times per day will help to keep blood sugar in balance.
Taking a combination of natural supplements, eating a healthy diet and getting adequate rest will help you naturally overcome panic and anxiety.
Products mentioned in the article include:
STRESS RELIEF TECHNIQUE
First:
Think about someone or something that is bothering you.
When you think about that person or thing, what is the strongest feeling that you are experiencing – is it sadness, is it fear or is it anger?
On a scale from zero to ten, with ten being the worst sadness, the worst fear or the worst anger and zero being none, how strong is the feeling?
Normally, when we experience a feeling such as sadness, fear or anger, we don’t like experiencing the feeling, so we say no it it, we shove it down, we resist it.
For the sake of this exercise, would you be willing to say yes to letting go of the feeling of sadness, fear or anger?
Could you say yes and let go of some more of the feeling?
Could you let go of some more, and more and more and more.
Now check on a scale from zero to ten, how strong is the feeling?
Is it less?
Great!
If you’re not at zero, would you say yes and let go of some more of the feeling?
And more, and more and more.
Continue to say yes and let go of the feeling until you feel significantly lighter or are at zero.
If the feeling of sadness, fear or anger hasn’t lessened, check and see if you have a tightness or clutching sensation in your chest or abdomen?
Imagine an open door over that tight, clutching sensation.
We are constantly resisting our feelings and shoving the feelings down into our chest or abdomen.
This tension, or trapped energy can lead to different physical and emotional symptoms.
Would you be willing to open up a door over that tight sensation and allow the trapped energy to leave.
Some people visualize it as smoke escaping, or water gushing out of a geyser, or heat rising from the pavement.
However you visualize it is perfect for you.
Would you be willing to let it go or some more of the trapped energy, and more and more and more and more.
Say yes and allow some more of trapped energy to leave, and more and more and more.
Continue letting go until the tightness is gone and you are at zero.
2nd
Check and see if you’ve been trying to figure out the solution to a problem and you haven’t been able to find the answer.
If I asked you your name, you would immediately give me the answer.
If I asked you for the solution to this problem, you would not have the answer and you wold continue to spin and spin trying to figure out the problem.
You most likely would then begin to feel frustration because you haven’t been able to come up with a solution to the problem.
Would you be willing to let go of the frustration you feel because you haven’t been able to find the answer.
And would you be willing to let go of some more of the frustration you feel, and more and more and more and more.
You most likely have been beating yourself up for not having this answers. This does not help you find the answers and it does not make you feel any better.
Would you be willing to let go of disapproving of yourself because you don’t have the answers?
And would you be willing to let go of some more disapproval of yourself?
And more, and more, and more, and more and more,
Now, would you be willing to give yourself some love and approval just because it feels good?
And could you give yourself some more love and approval?
And more, and more and more and more and more,
And would you be willing to give yourself some more love and approval, and more and more and more and more?
See if you feel lighter, less bothered?
3rd
According to psychology, all humans are driven by 3 basic needs:
If one or more of these needs are not being met, we can feel bothered or uncomfortable. Letting go of the feeling that we lack approval, lack control or lack safety and security can help us to feel less bothered and more at peace.
Who or what are you not liking today?
What do you dislike about …………….
Does that bring up a wanting approval, wanting control or wanting safety feeling?
Would you be willing to let go of the lacking approval, lacking control or lacking safety feeling?
What else do you dislike about ……………
Does that bring up a wanting approval, wanting control or wanting safety feeling?
Would you be willing to let go of the lacking approval, lacking control or lacking safety feeling?
Continue letting go until there is nothing you dislike about that person or thing.
Do this everything day. Doing it twice per day is better and you will find relief from whatever is bothering you.