Is There a Natural Way to Deal With Anxiety?
Twice a month, Yahoo Health’s Hormone Whisperer Alisa Vitti, HHC, is answering the most common questions about hormones and how they relate to weight, sex, acne, bad moods, low energy, and everything in between. Read her introductory column to learn more about Alisa’s approach to stopping hormonal chaos and getting into hormonal flow.
THE QUESTION: I get panic attacks but don’t want to take meds. Is there a natural way to calm down?
ALISA’S ANSWER: A client of mine used to get panic attacks randomly after hailing a cab.
Another client, a CEO of a health company, would have debilitating panic attacks about an hour after waking up, and would then pass out for two hours.
Yet another client just had a general sense of anxiousness all day, and couldn’t relax or sleep well at night.
Sound familiar? So many people struggle with feelings of anxiety — but there are some ways to manage symptoms and get out of the panic zone naturally.
The FLO Science
When you are overstressed and overtired, your adrenals take a hit. Instead of producing cortisol in the right quantities earlier in the day, you are forced to function without adequate levels of this hormone. That — coupled with not eating at regular intervals and indulging in caffeine and sugar — causes your blood sugar levels to fluctuate throughout the day. It’s this intersection of low blood sugar and low cortisol where anxiety and panic attacks can get bad.
In addition, if you are taking birth control pills or antibiotics, your gut microbiome can become disrupted. Why that matters: Research has shown that our moods can be influenced by the bacteria in the gut.
Finally, not having enough levels of B vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, and magnesium can compound this whole situation and make anxiety something that can spiral quickly out of control.
Women are more vulnerable to this hormonal recipe for anxiety, especially after extreme dieting, or postpartum where many micronutrients are depleted. The big takeaway? We need to eat for our hormonal and mood balance!
Related: 3 Successful Ways to Deal With Anxiety That You Should Know About
The FLO Fix
If all this is the culprit behind your feelings of anxiety, then there are a few things you can do to help calm down. For immediate support, turn to stress-relieving solutions such as applying lavender essential oils on your pulse points or engaging in some meditation (Transcendental Meditation is a good option).
Some other calming options including taking an Epsom salt bath several times a week (it’s a great way to unwind and decompress!) and having a good, nutritious breakfast, like oatmeal, eggs, or avocado, to keep blood sugar stable and provide you with mood-boosting nutrients. Also, make a point to eat foods good for your gut (like sauerkraut), and ensure you’re getting enough sleep — your adrenals need a consistent bedtime and wake time to perform optimally.
Good things come in threes: I want to hear from you in the comments!
First, do you struggle with anxiety? What suggestions are you going to try?
Second, what are your top health questions for me, your trusty Hormone Whisperer? Your question could be featured in my column!
Third, everyone you know is hormonal: Spread a little good ovary karma and share this article with your friends on social media, and be sure to follow me on Facebook, Twitter,Pinterest, and Instagram.
Need more Hormone Help? If you’re ready to get to the root of your issues, it’s time you started dealing with your hormones. Get out of symptom chaos so you can get back into hormonal FLO. Sign up here for a free download of my 4-Day Hormone Detox from my book WomanCode.
ABOUT ALISA: Alisa Vitti, HHC, is an integrative nutritionist, best-selling author of WomanCode, creator of the WomanCode System, and the founder of FLOLiving.com, a virtual health center that supports women’s hormonal and reproductive health. A graduate of Johns Hopkins University and the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, Alisa has been featured on The Dr. Oz Show, has a web series on Lifetime, and has been a regular contributor for CBS, Fox, Shape, Women’s Health, MindBodyGreen, and the Huffington Post. She’s also presented at TEDx, Talks@Google, Summit Series Outside, Hay House, WIE Symposium, and SHE Summit.
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