Rebecca

Anxiety has escalated greatly with economic and global strife. More than ever before people are on stress overload. When stress is not neutralized sufficiently one becomes overwhelmed and can slip into depression and anxiety. What brings on stress overload: poor diet, lack of sleep and exercise, psychological stress (divorce, death, economic hardship, illness), and environmental toxicity.

Tips on how to conquer anxiety:

• Lack of oxygen can make body feel speedy and anxious. No lazy breathing. Inhale and exhale from the belly. Chest breathing equates to lazy breathing.
• Fear erupts from a past event or anxiety from fearing a future event.  Stay in the NOW moment, this is your point of power.
• Identify, accept, and give yourself permission to release fear and anxiety by talking out loud. This important action step to dispel anxiety works. Trying to pretend or push away anxious thoughts will only create more resistance and make them stronger. By acknowledging anxious thoughts right away you have removed 50% of that fear. Next, give yourself permission to release those thoughts by telling them “to go play outside” or “that was then and this is now and I’m choosing to move forward.” Next, replace those anxious thoughts with positive thoughts or take a physical action by taking a deep breath, a short walk, call a friend, etc.
• For panic attacks – exhale all air from diaphragm and at the end of the exhale push the word “huh” 3 times forcing panic and your breath out.  Follow with deep full breath. Repeat until calm. Also rub or press into socket area below collarbone, next to rotator cuff, an acupressure point that opens up the lungs to be able to take a full breath.
• Cut out caffeine (coffee, black tea, red bulls, chocolate, even green tea past 4 p.m.). Your sympathetic nervous system is on overload when you are anxious so you don’t need to over stimulate it with more caffeine.
• Make sure your diet is healthy with lean proteins such as fish, turkey, and chicken. Eat a variety of vegetables, minimal fruits, nuts/seeds, and whole grains. Avoid refined sugar treats, alcohol, fast food, white flours, and artificial items such as diet drinks.
• To combat stress take Vitamin C, a buffered source (American Health Ester C, 1,000 mg.) with each meal. Also take a B complex at breakfast and lunch. B-Right (Jarrow) is a good brand on vitacost.com. These two vitamins are critical for optimal adrenal function, which plays a large part in managing your stress levels, increasing energy, and reduce anxiety attacks.
• For chronic anxiety take Adrenal abX and/or Adrena Calm cream (Apex Energetics 800-736-4381 set up a account using P2017). Adrenal abX gives extra support to your adrenals and endocrine system. Adrena Calm cream helps to restore your circadian rhythm so that you wind down at night versus wind up.
• Intesol (Metagenics – go to the store button on Ann Boroch’s website and register on the online store). This formula helps with uncomfortable stomach and intestinal distress when under anxiety. It has chamomile, peppermint, and lavender oils in to rid the body of spasms, cramps, etc.
• Supplement with products such as Gabatone (Apex Energetics 800-736-4381 set up a account using P2017) or Calm (Olympian Labs) on vitacost.com. Both supplements have gaba and other amino acids and herbs to calm your mind and your body. *Note: Do not take if you are on anti anxiety/depressant pharmaceuticals.
• Take 1,500 mg of a free form amino acid complex – Super Daily Amino Acid Blend (Carlson 750 mg capsules) to feed your body the precursors that make neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine, and oxytocin.
• Exercise in the morning or afternoon. Exercise is a great way to neutralize stress and help with the natural circadian rhythm of your body wanting to fall asleep at night. If you exercise too late in the evening though, it could keep you up.