As a result of the growing epidemic of anxiety in the United States, depression is now the leading mental health condition, surpassing anxiety in terms of prevalence. According to estimates, 40 million Americans suffer from anxiety disorders, and more than half of all students in the United States have this mental disorder natural anxiety medication for children. A new nickname I recently came across for this country struck a chord with me, one that I thought was sad but probably also very accurate when I thought about the mental state of our nation as a whole: The United States of Anxiety.
Even though many prescription medications can be used to treat anxiety symptoms, we may want to consider natural treatments if we need a long-term solution. As opioids and cannabinoids share the natural anxiety medication for children same brain “reward” pathways, benzodiazepines are effective but can be addictive. This may result in more harm than good when combined with withdrawal symptoms from benzodiazepines.
In many studies, meditation and mindfulness have effectively reduced anxiety symptoms. What may appear to be a short-term anxiety treatment option can quickly become a long-term treatment regimen. A meta-analysis combining the results of 163 studies concluded that meditation and mindfulness substantially improve anxiety due to practice.
A beginner’s meditation can start with guided meditations available on YouTube and podcasts. It is best not to worry about an overactive mind. The benefits of lavender essential oil were discovered over 2,500 years ago, and with continued practice, they have become more effective and easier to practice. It is surprising how much a little meditation can go a long way.
Taking 80mg capsules of lavender essential oil relieves anxiety, sleep disturbance, and depression, according to a 2013 study. Researchers also found that lavender essential oil did not cause adverse effects, drug interactions, or withdrawal symptoms in this study. Alternatively, you can apply the lavender essential oil topically behind the ears, on the temples, or back of the neck to relieve stress.
Adding lavender essential oil to vetiver oil can also alleviate anxiety symptoms. Sugar and refined carbohydrates can lead to sugar highs and lows throughout the day. It may be difficult to control anxiety symptoms if these foods cause mood swings and altered energy levels. To ease anxiety, you should avoid foods like cookies, pastries, soda, fast food, fried food, processed meat, and refined grains.
In a meta-analysis published by the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, kava treatment effectively reduced anxiety with only mild adverse effects. It is non-addictive and non-hypnotic. There may be side effects such as headaches, drowsiness, and diarrhea with kava.
